Rooney rescues draw for Everton at Brighton
london — Wayne Rooney scored a 90th-minute penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw for Everton, whose difficult start to the season continued at Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Sunday.
The hosts had looked on course to take all three points from a drab match when Anthony Knockaert pounced on a loose ball and fired home eight minutes from fulltime.
Yet Brighton defender Bruno caught Dominic Calvert-Lewin with an elbow in the final minute and Rooney converted the resulting penalty. Ronald Koeman’s side almost snatched victory in the 94th minute, but Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan produced fine saves to deny Kevin Mirallas and Calvert-Lewin on the follow-up.
Having spent around 140 million pounds ($186 million) in the close season transfer window, fuelling fan hopes that they could challenge
We were the better team. Most of the time we had good ball possession
Ronald Koeman
higher up the table, Everton have won just two of their opening eight matches and pressure is mounting on boss Koeman.
Sunday’s draw moved both teams on to eight points and lifted them one place in the table, Brighton to 14th and Everton to 16th.
“At least we got one point — I think a point well deserved,” Koeman said. “We were the better team. Most of the time we had good ball possession. Maybe we had to create a bit more.
“After 1-0 we showed character and finally maybe had to win the game in the last few seconds.” —