HAJDUK SPLIT
THE unwelcome sight of crowd trouble at a European tie could not knock Everton out of their stride as goals from Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye put them well in control of this play-off.
The trouble, when visiting supporters threw objects including seats following the opening goal, will be reviewed by UEFA after it caused a short stoppage to the first-leg meeting.
But, with England manager Gareth Southgate an interested spectator given Everton’s strong English contingent, Ronald Koeman’s side could be satisfied with the lead they will take to Croatia, especially as £45 million signing Gylfi Sigurdsson will be available for the return having not been considered last night.
The tie was marred somewhat by the crowd disturbance shortly after Everton had taken a firsthalf lead, involving a large number of the 1,500 fans who had made the journey from Croatia. Supporters surged forward and were involved in altercations with stewards as both sets of players moved to the opposite side of the field and play was held up for two minutes. Sadly, the unrest between those supporters and the stewards continued sporadically and police were drafted in as support.
The opening goal came at the end of a half-hour of near-complete domination from Koeman’s side and also at the perfect time, just as a trace of frustration was beginning to creep into Goodison. It was created, and scored, by two England defenders as Leighton Baines showed great tenacity in winning a loose ball following a corner before surging past a defender to the left byline. There, the full-back sent over a perfect, hanging cross which allowed Keane to climb above Hysen Memolla and head in his first goal for the club since his £30m summer arrival from Burnley.
The crucial second came on the stroke of half-time. Davy Klaassen created it with a strong challenge in midfield and pass to Wayne Rooney, which found the former England captain at his most effective, slipping in a perfect through ball that Gueye converted coolly from 10 yards.
Injury to new Spanish striker Sandro Ramirez meant Rooney played in his favoured centreforward role and he was soon in the thick of it with Zoran Nizic spoken to for hacking him down.
The first sight of goal came from his young team-mate Ademola Lookman, who won a corner when his strike was deflected behind