Toffees are twice pegged
IT took Leeds United’s brilliant Brazilian Raphinha 72 minutes to come to the boil but a piece of pure samba magic rescued Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
Seeking redemption for the opening day 5-1 hammering at Manchester United in front of a fully charged Elland Road, enjoying their first real taste of their Premier League return, things weren’t going to plan.
And Raphinha had been forced to take second billing as Everton’s wide men Demarai Gray, Alex Iwobi and Richarlison took on Toffees boss Rafa Benitez’s orders to wing it.
But at 2-1 down and with the first full
Premier League house since they were last amongst the elite in 2004 – Covid has delayed the homecoming – Raphinha struck.
A cross from the home side’s Kalvin Phillips, whose quarterback style passing hadn’t until now received its due reward, caused confusion in the Everton ranks allowing skipper Liam Cooper to set up Raphinha for a fantastic finish from the edge of the area. Either side settling for a draw? Forget it, this was football without a safety net, two teams going for the jugular.
Benitez said: “We had chances to score a third goal and if that had happened we would be talking about something different. We’ve had 17 attempts away from home, some clear chances.
“Marcelo Bielsa has been working with his team for three years, we’ve had six weeks so I’m pleased with four points from two games.”
But there were cries from the home players and their revved-up fans in added time when substitute Fabian Delph floored Raphinha in the area with a full-blooded challenge. A VAR check confirmed nothing
illegal had taken place as the Leeds player rolled around on the ground.
Leeds boss Bielsa said: “It was a game which was a big test for the team and this was multiplied because we were behind twice.
“Given the amount of minutes we dominated we should have created more chances.”
Earlier Everton had found a Friend when they most needed it, VAR minder Kevin Friend advising referee Darren England to take a look at the pitchside monitor after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had gone down in the box following a challenge from Cooper.
Yet another cross from an adventurous Everton side – this time from Lucas Digne – had asked questions of the home defence. A close inspection by England proved Calvert-Lewin had been impeded.
Just what a Sheffield-born lad was looking for, a spot-kick in front of a baying Don Revie Stand. The England striker lapped it up, firing past Illan Meslier and putting a finger to his lips and then turning and showing his name to the incensed home support.
But Elland Road was soon bouncing again with energy as Mateusz Klich levelled just before the break.
Patrick Bamford, who had just been booked for continuing what appeared a feud with Yerry Mina – the Everton centre-back also collecting a yellow card after a set-to by the corner flag – displayed his more mature side with a neat pass which Klich confidently dinked over Jordan Pickford.
After the jousting of an entertaining opening half it was now all set up for a humdinger final 45 minutes with both teams committed to attacking, mostly down the flanks as wingers seem to have come back in vogue. And one of them, Gray – unwanted by Leicester and brought to Merseyside for just £1.5million from Bayer Leverkusen – gave the Toffees the lead in the a 50th minute.
At the second attempt, the hard-working Abdoulaye Doucoure managed to find Gray lurking in the area and at first he seemed to miscontrol the pass only to regain his balance and poise to thread a low shot into the corner of the net.
Leeds were rattled and almost conceded again when Gray this time was the provider with a low cross which Calvert-Lewin prodded goalwards only for Meslier to make an instinctive stop.
And the French keeper foiled Calvert-Lewin yet again after the striker moved in for the kill from an Alex Iwobi ball, Meslier throwing his body in the way. He also saved well from substitute Andros Townsend as the game flowed from end to end.