Magpies’ Ba robs Everton of victory

LONDON: Newcastle United striker Demba Ba struck in the last minute to salvage a 2-2 draw with Everton in a pulsating Premier League match at Goodison Park last night.

Everton looked to have sealed all three points when Victor Anichebe turned neatly to crack a low shot past Tim Howard with two minutes left, but Ba’s clever finish earned a point for Newcastle.

The Toffees went ahead in the 15th minute when left-back Leighton Baines combined brilliantly with Steven Pienaar before drilling a left-foot cross shot past goalkeeper Steve Harper.

Baines cleared a rare Newcastle effort on goal off his own line and the home side ended the first half in control.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew responded by sending on Ba, and the move paid immediate dividends when the striker ran on to a beautifully weighted Yohan Cabaye pass and struck a firm angled leftshoot shot past Howard.

Pienaar was again the creative spark as Everton almost took the lead again, but Marouane Fellaini was adjudged narrowly offside after clipping in the SA midfielder’s clever pass.

Everton were also denied a second goal after 78 minutes when Anichebe’s close-range header was tipped onto the underside of the crossbar by Harper and appeared to bounce over the line.

Anichebe then controlled Pienaar’s pass and lashed a fierce shot into the corner of the net before Ba prodded Shola Ameobi’s flick-on past Howard to earn the visitors a draw. – Reuters