ROONEY’S RUSTY RETURN
Wayne draws blank as Everton edge Euro tie
THEY came in their droves hoping to see a debut to remember, daring to dream that the second coming would feature goals and fireworks.
Wayne Rooney was the same. He had hoped to relaunch his Everton career with a goal and a command performance but the reality was different. In a war of attrition, against opponents who were determined to frustrate and disrupt, the fairytale never threatened to come true.
Still it was not all bleak. Everton’s first competitive game of the season — the first leg of a Europa League qualifier against Slovakian opponents — was a winning one thanks to Leighton Baines’ deflected strike in the second half.
Rooney, in fairness, was one of Everton’s better players during a difficult evening but he left Goodison Park knowing that there is room for improvement, both personally and collectively. In many ways, the hard work starts now.
‘This is something I’ve been looking forward to for the last two weeks,’ said Rooney. ‘But it was tough. We’re still in our preseason. It’s the first 90 minutes for a lot of us. It’s important to get the win and the clean sheet.
‘It was a great feeling to be out at Goodison in the blue shirt but I had to put my emotions to one side. Hopefully now I can get down to focusing on the football over the coming weeks.’
Given the favourite son’s return, TV viewers may have been surprise did to sees swathes off empty seats in Goodison’s main stand, but that was due to building works. In fact, ‘ house full’ signs had been erected on Monday and the capacity was 32,000.
When the Gwladys Street chanted his name just before kickoff, Rooney simply stretched his hamstrings, moved his hips from side to side and looked dead ahead. Sentiment and emotion was the last thing on his mind. There was a job to be done.
There was no rapid start, however. Ruzomberok were playing their fifth game in Europe of the season and they looked fitter in the opening exchanges. The hosts’ tempo, much to manager Ronald Koeman’s frustration, was not quick enough to cause problems. Everton did have moments before the break. Rooney was lively and willing and had the first effort of note, cracking a drive just over the bar in the 20th minute before scuffing his shot in the 28th minute after Dominic Calvert- Lewin showed tenacity to engineer a chance for him.
More promise was hinted at on the half-hour when Davy Klaassen scuttled into the area after exchanging passes with CalvertLewin but, again, there was no end product as the Holland international crashed his right-footed shot into the side-netting.
Things improved after the break as Klaassen went close with a header and Kevin Mirallas saw a goal-bound shot diverted away.
But Everton had an almighty scare when a header from Jan Maslo looked to be goalbound but Maarten Stekelenburg managed to tip the ball on to the bar.
If it was a lucky escape, Everton took full advantage and in the 65th minute they made the breakthrough. A corner from Mirallas was not dealt with and the ball bounced out invitingly to Baines, who steadied himself.
With one swish of his left foot — and a deflection off Erik Daniel — Baines’ drive from 25 yards zipped into the net, wrong- footing Ruzomberok keeper Matus Macik. The cheer which greeted the strike was born primarily of relief. One goal would have to do.
‘We know that we will be in for a tough game over there,’ said Baines. ‘But we will play them a bit more aware of what to expect. If we keep a clean sheet, we will go through. We are treating this competition seriously. We know we can improve.’