Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PREMIER LEAGUE
2-0 behind in stoppage time but Flo show saves Magpies RATINGS
THE joy was palpable, the ecstasy uncontained...but it wasn’t Moise Kean who was smiling at the end of an incredible night.
The Everton striker had gleefully celebrated his first goal for the club at the 22nd time of asking, but a contest which the home side had dominated was turned on its head in a frantic four minutes of stoppage time.
With Newcastle seemingly sunk after barely mustering an attempt on target, incredibly, impossibly, they scored in the 94th and 95th minutes to rescue a point.
Both times it was a set-piece that floored Everton, both times the ball was thrown into the box, and both times Carlo Ancelotti’s side failed to clear. Both times the ball fell to Toon substitute Florian Lejeune, who both times forced it home to scramble a point for Steve Bruce’s men.
It was tough luck on Kean, who had departed in the 71st minute to a standing ovation after finally getting his Everton career up and running following his move from Juventus.
He was publicly humiliated in December when substituted as a substitute after just 18 minutes at Old Trafford by an unimpressed caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson, and many thought that was the end of a brief Goodison adventure.
So when he scored his first goal for the Blues, he could be forgiven a delirious dance by the corner flag and a sly glance to where former Everton striker Ferguson was standing.
It was a goal that was greeted with not just relief from the Everton supporters but with appreciation too, because the Italian put in a real shift against a sorry Newcastle.
The fans had visited the training ground to demand more effort after a dismal derby defeat by Liverpool’s reserve team, and Kean gave it with a pulsating display that deservedly won him the man-of-the-match award, and some new admirers.
Newcastle kicked off with a woeful record of 16 consecutive matches without a clean sheet in this fixture, so it was absolutely no surprise when they conceded again.
The identity of the goalscorer, though, was a seismic shock.
Kean had made 21 appearances for Everton without a goal and without really looking like scoring. Here, though, he seemed a striker transformed, a striker energised.
It was a good goal, too. Dominic Calvert-lewin fed Bernard, who found Kean with a precise pass. The 19-yearold Italian seemed to mis-control but had the nerve to turn and stroke home.
Calvert-lewin, dreaming of a place in the England squad for Euro 2020, gave Everton what looked like a winning cushion with the second goal on 53 minutes.
His touch to control Luca Digne’s cross from the left, was sublime, his turn and finish a thing of beauty.
That seemed to be it, with Newcastle barely offering a response.
But in the Premier League nothing is certain. Just ask Chelsea, who fell to a last-gasp Newcastle goal at the weekend. And, thanks to Lejeune, this was perhaps one of the most miraculous comebacks of all time.
No wonder the stunned Toon fans sang long into the night.
Nothing to do until last seconds, then let in two goals in two minutes
A bit of energy down the right, not always the most technical
Not the prettiest, but his strength is a big factor for Blues
Looks more and more capable, improving under Ancelotti
Took a long time to get his radar right, but assisted second goal
Quietly effective with his darting runs, got into pockets of space
Looked much better as he controlled the tempo in the middle
Spat with fans seems to have been forgotten, impressive game
Fans love him and no wonder, his touch on the ball is joyful
Deserved his standing ovation when subbed for goal and effort
Ancelotti having real influence on him, leads line with intelligence
Coleman (Kean 71) 6 Davies (Bernard 83)
Niasse (Walcott 88)
Spent most of game under pressure and made some good stops
Produced a threat when he got forward down the right
Lots of defending to do, and was found out a little in the air
Made to work but stood up to physical threat of Calvert-lewin
Not a bad game, but two poor goals to concede for visitors
Just coming back from injury and seemed to have heavy legs
Some good touches, but perhaps too many of them at times
Lots of energy, and needed it as visitors were often overrun
Buzzed around but struggled to get on ball and influence game
So anonymous and no surprise when hauled off early in second half
Worked hard enough, frustrated by sparse supply to feed on
Krafth (Atsu 63) 6 Lejeune (Clark 70) 8 Schar (Joelinton 78)