Alex Iwobi was in action as Everton secured their place in the Premier League for next season with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on Thursday night.
Iwobi featured for 90 minutes in the must win fixture for Frank Lampard’s side.
Everton found themselves behind in the 22nd minute as Jean-Philippe Mateta gave Crystal Palace the lead.
In the 36th minute Palace doubled their lead through Jordan Ayew who slotted home after Wilfried Zaha’s shot was parried by Jordan Pickford.
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Nine minutes into the second half Everton pulled a goal back thanks to their defender Michael Keane.
In the 75th minute Everton equalized after Richarlison’s shot deflected off Conor Gallagher and went in.
And with five minutes left Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed in a cross to complete the comeback and secure Everton’s place in the Premier League next season.
With one game left, Everton are now safe in 16th place on 39 points while the battle for survival is now between Burnley and Leeds.
At Stamford Bridge, Leicester City held FA Cup beaten finalists Chelsea to a 1-1 draw.
Kelechi Iheanacho was in action from the start before making way for Harvey Barnes on 63 minutes while Ademola Lookman was benched.
James Maddison gave Leicester a sixth minute lead before Marcos Alonso drew Chelsea level on 34 minutes.
And at Villa Park, relegation threatened Burnley settled for a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.
Burnley will now go into the final game of the season against Newcastle and must secure the three points to avoid relegation.
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COMMENTS
Congrats to Iwobi and all Evertonians.
It would have been a huge anti-climax if Everton had suffered relegation despite the huge investment in the club in the last few years by its owners.
But they really need to employ a competent Director of Football ASAP…someone like a Seyi Olofinjana or Mike Emenalo…..people who have real eyes for the right kinds of signings. A team that has passed through Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, Carlo Ancellotti, Rafa Benitez and now Frank Lampard should be challenging for European places season in season out.
Iwobi and co can breathe easy now, heading into the final day of the season. What a relief.
What a relief that was. Congrat iwobi
It’s party time at Goodison Park.
A huge escape for Everton and their fledgling coach Frank Lampard, a Chelsea legend who can now consider himself an Everton legend as well.
Understandable that the fans invaded the pitch and the whole place got rowdier than Oshodi market on a good day. The proud club is now guaranteed another season in the top flight, thanks to this hard-fought victory.
A few talking points:
1) Lampard must now be wondering how best to use Iwobi. He has done well in the right wing-back role, but he was a game changer when Lampard moved him into the midfield.
2) What a difference good fans can make! The Toffee fans were loud, booing Crystal Palace, and cheering loudly for their boys. I noted with amazement that even when Everton were 2-nil down, not a single boo came from their fans. Unlike Nigeria fans who would boo their own team if things go south, Everton fans stayed positive. THEY KEPT CHEERING. And when the team finally responded and won the game, look at the way the fans appreciated them! Again, unlike some Nigeria fans who look down on achievements like Rohr winning a bronze medal at the Afcon, Everton fans took to the pitch to wildly celebrate Everton’s relegation escape. The typical Rohr hater would say “ORDINARY RELEGATION ESCAPE? Our coaches in the past have been doing much better than this. We should be challenging for trophies, not escaping relegation. We are Nigeria.” Everton fans have a different attitude. THEY HAVE MORE HUMILITY AND GRATITUDE.
3) We once again see the importance of having a coach that can read games. Lampard saw that his initial setup was not working. Unlike OUR OWN, who stood tactically moribund at the touchline against Tunisia and Ghana, Lampard responded to adversity by making changes. He moved Iwobi to the midfield, and brought in new legs that better suited the new tactical ideas.
4) We also see how crucial it is to have a decent goalie. Pickford had a good game today, and his efforts in goal contributed in no small measure to the fact that Everton will be staying in the Premier League. A huge reminder for Peseiro and company. One of his starting priorities is to find reliable goal minders for the SE.
5) Never give up attitude.
The players kept fighting to the very end. The fans kept cheering, encouraging their boys. That’s how you win big games.
Congrats to the Toffees. NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM!
Great observations, good points. May God continue to bless you.
I have said it over and over again. The reason why we are were we are in football is our pride as Nigerians. Both fans, journalists, Ex-internationals. Always talking about 94 squad yet and fail to appreciate whatever good that we are achieving in the present. We need to let go of this 94 squad mentality. And secondly we the Naija fans are never patient. Maybe because we have continuously endured bad leadership in our Nation, so we cannot be positive and patient.
Thanks for your insight.
Fantastic observations Pompei. Very useful and well articulated.
@pompei, you be senior man joor! keep up the good job dear. The urge to read your comments (after @Dr.Drey) is unquenchable.