Down with a fight
early setback which left Goodison gripped in anxious contemplation – quite the opposite of what was required given recent results.
And Mirallas shot into the side netting in the 20th minute, their only threat on goal.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was struggling to lead the line on his own but Everton finally managed an effort on goal just after the half hour when Mirallas latched on to a Davies through ball. His shot was smothered by Anthony Lopes. Still, it represented progress of sorts as did Davies’s next intervention even if he knew less about it, standing in the wall as Memphis Depay launched a fierce free-kick from 30 yards his head deflected it on to the upright with Pickford rooted.
Koeman threw on Ademola Lookman in place of the pedestrian Davy Klaassen at the break and the teenager, who had not figured since the EFL Cup tie against Sunderland in September, nearly made a sudden impact. CalvertLewin finally won an aerial battle and Lookman’s effort at the far post at least forced another smothering Lopes save.
It was a start which lifted the crowd another notch as did Lyon’s increasing attempts to slow up play reacting to Everton’s more robust second-half approach.
Lyon could have put the tie to bed in the 53rd minute when Myziane Maolida raced through on the left side of the area. But Pickford came out to block – and then came the goals and the fighting finish to the match.
EVERTON (4-1-4-1): Booked: