Siggy’s goal in a million
Gylfi’s debut wonder goal puts Rooney & Co into group stage
GYLFI SIGURDSSON scored the goal of a lifetime on his full Everton debut.
Everton’s £45million record signing smashed his shot from 50 yards out on the right flank over Hajduk goalie Dante Stipica to earn Ronald Koeman’s men a draw in Split and a 3-1 aggregate victory.
With the tie in the balance Jordan Pickford saved Ahmed Said’s spot-kick.
GYLFI SIGURDSSON showed why Everton paid a club record £45million to sign him by scoring an absolute screamer.
His 50-yard effort on his full debut would have lit up a Champions League Final, let alone settle a Europa League play-off. And Jordan Pickford, Everton’s previous record signing, also justified his hefty price tag when the £30m goalkeeper saved a penalty to kill of Hajduk Split’s hopes of a comeback after losing the first leg 2- 0 at Goodison Park last week. Split’s rowdy travelling fans gave Everton a taste of what to expect on Merseyside and their 33,000 supporters inside the Poljud Stadium made one hell of a racket. The cavernous, concrete bowl of the Poljud is a throwback to the late 1970s – and so are their fanatical fans.
They are intimidating and some of them attacked small groups of Everton fans in the city before kick-off.
The Torcida, as they are known, can also be underhand and a laser pen was directed at the Everton players early on.
Roared on by them, Hajduk took the game to Everton and Josip Radosevic had a free-kick blocked well before it could trouble Pickford.
Ante Erceg dragged a shot wide from a decent position on the left.
Everton soaked up this pressure and might have extended their aggregate lead when Wayne Rooney fluffed a fine headed chance from Cuco Martina’s cross down the right.
Everton showed their greater class to gradually play their way into the game and Icelander Sigurdsson flashed a shot narrowly wide on his first start after moving from Swansea.
Hajduk still threatened and Erceg headed over from Hysen Memolla’s cross.
The Croat had Hajduk’s best chances and he also missed the target from a dangerous position to the left of Pickford’s goal.
Then two minutes before halftime, just as it seemed Everton had drawn Hajduk’s sting, Radosevic hit a swerving, top-class strike from 35 yards, which flew past Pickford into the back of the net.
But as stunning as Radosevic’s strike was, Sigurdsson’s effort just seconds into the second half was even more sensational. He must have been around 50 yards out when the ball broke to him and he smacked it right-footed on the volley past shocked keeper Dante Stipica.
It was so good, it briefly silenced Hajduk’s raucous fans.
Aaron Lennon’s introduction at half- time for his first taste of action since battling his mentalhealth issues was most welcome.
The winger soon made an impact and went down the right to set up a chance for Rooney, which he headed wide.
Hajduk’s slim chances of clawing their way back into the tie were ended on 64 minutes when Pickford saved Ahmed Said’s poor penalty after Ashley Williams brought down Erceg.
Rooney could have given Everton victory on the night but his shot was stopped by Stipica six minutes from time.