It’s the luck of the Irish!
SEAMUS FLUKES LATE WINNER
SEAMUS COLEMAN looked to have blown his big moment – but the luck of the Irish came to his rescue!
The Republic of Ireland full- back made a complete hash of his shot in stoppage time – only for his mishit to wrong- foot Cardiff keeper David Marshall and end up in the back of the net.
The fluke winner earned Everton three priceless points in their bid for Europe after the heroics of Marshall looked to have earned a crucial point for the relegation- threatened Welsh side.
No wonder the Scot cut such a dejected figure at the end after being beaten by Coleman’s miskick.
Scrappy
Marshall produced a number of fine saves and it took a deflected 59th- minute strike from Gerard Deulofeu to beat him.
The young Spanish flyer sprinted down the left and belted home via a deflection off Steven Caulker.
But just nine minutes later, the Toffees failed to clear Peter Whittingham’s freekick into their six- yard box.
Juan Cala slipped ahead of his marker and forced the ball past keeper Tim Howard off his chest.
Marshall helped keep Everton at bay with some decent goalkeeping, including a late diving stop to deny Romelu Lukaku’s deflected 18- yard shot.
He also pulled off decent saves from Kevin Mirallas and Deulofeu.
Then, with time almost out, Aiden McGeady crossed from the left, Gareth Barry headed back across goal and Coleman crazily won it with his lucky strike.
Everton were clearly the superior side and will feel their victory, which will breathe life back into their European push, was deserved.
But the manner of defeat will be hard to take for the Bluebirds, who face an increasing struggle to stay up.
The first half was a tight affair with little to rouse either set of fans, although Cardiff were arguably fortunate to go in at the break with 11 men after Kevin Theophile- Catherine caught Barry late with a rash challenge.
Referee Roger East allowed Everton to play advantage at the time but later went back to book an apologetic TheophileCatherine.