Bossong scores in the last minute to thwart Everton
LIVERPOOL: Sebastien Bassong (pic) scored in the last minute to earn Norwich City a 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday that prevented the hosts from making ground on the top four.
David Moyes’ side would have been a point behind fourth-placed Chelsea if they had won, but Bassong’s dramatic late intervention cancelled out Steven Naismith’s 12th-minute opener to leave Everton frustrated.
Norwich, who beat Manchester United 1-0 last weekend, are now unbeaten in six matches, while Everton have won just one of their last seven league games.
Costa Rican midfielder Brian Oviedo made his first start for Everton since joining from FC Copenhagen and he made a quick impression by creating the opening goal at Goodison Park.
After chesting down a long ball on the Everton left, Oviedo stole past Steven Whittaker and then cut the ball back for Naismith to tap in his third goal in three Premier League starts.
It was the first goal Norwich had conceded in over 345 minutes of league football, following clean sheets in their three previous outings.
Everton came close to a second goal on several occasions, with John Ruddy saving from Leighton Baines and Naismith and twice thwarting Leon Osman.
Norwich striker Grant Holt screwed a shot wide after bludgeoning his way to the edge of the Everton area, while Bassong put a header fractionally wide from a Robert Snodgrass corner in the 41st minute.
The visitors redoubled their efforts to find an equaliser in the second half, with Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard obliged to parry an Anthony Pilkington free-kick just before the hour.
John Heitinga then had to slide in to clear the ball off his own goal-line after Snodgrass beat Howard from Holt’s through-ball.
Baines stung Ruddy’s palms in the 74th minute after surging into the penalty area but Everton appeared to have done enough, only for Bassong to strike in injury time.
Javier Garrido’s deep free-kick fell at the back post and Bassong met it with a strong header that hit the underside of the bar and dropped over the line, with Holt following in to make sure.