Boos ring out as Everton stay bottom

EVERTON

Rooney 21, Vlasic 66

APOLLONLIMASSOL

2

2

Sardinero 12, Yuste Canton 88 Everton’s poor start in the Europa League continued as they were held at Goodison Park by Cypriot outfit Apollon Limassol, who finished with ten men.

With Lyon and Atalanta drawing 1-1 in the other Group E match, Everton – who left the field at the end with boos ringing around the stadium – remain bottom of the pool.

They went behind after 12 minutes when Ashley Williams’ blunder was punished. The defender gave the ball straight to Anton Maglica and, from his cross, Adrian Sardinero hit a close-range shot that Jordan Pickford made a decent attempt to save but the Spaniard followed up to make sure.

Everton had a major slice of luck that allowed Wayne Rooney to equalise. Hector Yuste botched a backpass that Rooney intercepted and he scored his first European goal for the club.

Ronald Koeman brought on substitute Nikola Vlasic at the interval and it paid off when Rooney’s pass ricocheted to Gylfi Sigurdsson, and he fed Vlasic, who shot low into the net.

Apollon’s hopes looked grim when Valentin Roberge was dismissed in the 86th minute after a clash with Everton substitute Calvert-lewin – but two minutes later Yuste headed in to make it 2-2.

Finally, Everton’s Dominic Calvert-lewin had the goal at his mercy, but his close-range header was saved by keeper Bruno Vale.