Sligo Rovers 3-3 EvertonYoussef Chermiti scored twice late on to deservedly give Everton reward for a creative display in an entertaining 3-3 draw at Sligo Rovers in their pre-season opener on Friday afternoon.
Captain Seamus Coleman played the opening 45 minutes against his old club, while there were first appearances in royal blue after the break for Illiman Ndiaye and Tim Iroegbunam.
In front of a sold-out The Showgrounds, Sean Dyche’s side carved out opportunities throughout the 90 minutes in what was a first chance to build match fitness after a week-long training camp in the Republic of Ireland.
The Toffees looked to be heading for defeat after somehow going into the interval 2-0 down despite dominating, while Mason Holgate’s close-range header was quickly pegged back by Sligo’s third of the afternoon.
But Chermiti, one of 11 changes for the start of the second half, had the final say with quick-fire goals in the final 10 minutes to give the Blues something to show for their attacking intent.
Sligo are five months into their Irish Premier Division season but it was the Blues who looked sharp early on with three chances inside the opening 10 minutes.
First, Dwight McNeil lofted a free-kick into the area which eventually fell to Michael Keane who swivelled and hit a first-time shot into the arms of keeper Conor Walsh.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin then took advantage of a misplaced pass on eight minutes to find a path through on goal but delayed his finish, allowing Sligo to clear.
And it really should have been 1-0 moments later when McNeil collected a loose ball, raced into the area and squared for Calvert-Lewin who placed his shot the wrong side of the left-hand post from eight yards out.
The chances kept coming, too. The lively Jenson Metcalfe crossed from the right for McNeil to connect with a goalbound snapshot that was deflected wide, before the winger was put clean through by Calvert-Lewin’s flick, only to drill his shot into the legs of Walsh.
The Sligo keeper produced more heroics on 26 minutes when Maupay’s pinpoint cross from the right touchline saw Abdoulaye Doucoure hit a sweet volley that Walsh somehow pushed past the post.
Everton should have been well ahead by this point, making Sligo’s 34th-minute opener all the more frustrating as Luke Pearce met a near-post corner to flick past Joao Virginia.
The wave of Blues attacks continued, however, Metcalfe – impressing on the right wing – firing a finish inches past the post, before playing Coleman down the flank for the skipper to centre and Calvert-Lewin to head over.
Somehow the scoreboard read 2-0 on 41 minutes, Virginia pushing away Daire Patton’s strike only for Kyle McDonagh to tuck home the rebound.
And a maddening first half was summed up seconds before the break when Maupay struck a half-volley from 20 yards out that beat Walsh but smacked the inside of the right-hand post.
As had been planned, manager Sean Dyche made 11 changes for the start of the second half, meaning first outings for summer signings Iliman Ndiaye and Tim Iroegbunam.
And the latter made an instant impact, winning possession midway in Sligo’s half and sliding a through ball into the path of Youssef Chermiti who dragged his low shot wide of the far post.
Next up was Ndiaye with 49 minutes on the clock, robbing JR Wilson of possession and hitting a rising finish wide.
Seconds later, Chermiti jinked his way past two challenges and rounded the keeper, only to see his finish blocked, before Beto’s rebound was saved by Walsh.
Having created chance after chance, Everton finally found the back of the net on 54 minutes when Jack Harrison’s deep cross was headed across goal by Chermiti for Holgate to nod home from close range.
But having got themselves back into the contest, the visitors gifted Sligo a goal moments later, a mix up at the back between Holgate and Billy Crellin allowing Kevin Muldoon to score into an empty net.
Everton continued carving out chances, Harrison and Chermiti linking up in a flowing move that so nearly ended in a first Blues goal for Ndiaye, only for the Senegal forward’s final touch to take him too wide to get the better of Walsh.
Sligo’s goal kept getting peppered heading into the final 15 minutes, Roman Dixon’s long throw releasing Beto inside the box. The striker squared for his compatriot Chermiti who saw his finish saved by substitute keeper Kyle Gabbidon.
Chermiti wasn’t to be denied with five minutes left, though, the impactful Harrison finding space down the left byline and cutting back for the 20-year-old to tap home from close range.
There was nothing simple about the Portuguese’s leveller seconds later, however, Chermiti cutting inside and curling a delightful finish into the bottom left-hand corner.
And that proved the final say of an entertaining tussle, with Everton returning to Finch Farm next week ahead of a friendly at Salford City next Saturday 27 July.
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