This was a match between two wanna-be heavyweights... meaning; this rather high-profile match saw two teams struggling to reclaim past glories... and it kinda showed. In a first half rather lacking of inspiration and abit of perspiration; it was the home side who had slightly the better of it; with Richarlison having three efforts smartly saved by Spurs reserve 'keeper Paulo Gazzaniga. What seriously struck me was how bad Spurs are this season... this is the great team people have been talking about to dominate England and Europe not that long ago... what happened to them? They looked bereft of inspiration and motivation...
The second half was a much better action; as the match suddenly caught fire in the searing Goodison air. Alex Iwobi; impressive in recent outings; rather inexplicably gave the ball away in a dangerous area deep in his own half; of all people to Son Heung-min; allowing the Korean to relay the ball to Dele Alli. The Spurs man; seemingly back in form in this game after a recent barren spell; side-stepped an off-balance Mason Holgate to fire past Jordan Pickford for the opener.
Everton; and the game itself; was roused into action; with better passes and clearer penetration. Then in the 79th minute, it happened. Son Heung-min, who kena armed inadvertently just moments ago by Andre Gomes; went in for a sliding tackle on the Portuguese near the left touch-line. It was poorly timed; but the impact and angle of Gomes' fall into Serge Aurier; caused a horrific ankle injury that even the replays could not show. Players looked on aghast and distraught; as memories of the Denis Irwin and Seamus Coleman injuries came to mind.
It looked like being another bleak day at the office all-round for Everton. Try as they might; they could not quite break down the Spurs defence. Then this happened. With twelve minutes of injury time and going deep into it... Colombian star Yerry Mina picked up the ball midway in the Spurs half. With hope upon hope, he played an excellent ball (while slipping mind you) out wide to the on-rushing left-back Lucas Digne. The Frenchman played a beautifully instinctive first-time cross into the box; for lo and behold; our friend the much-overlooked Turkish substitute Cenk Tosun to power home brilliantly to share the spoils. It was a Rebel Wilson-type Pitch Perfect goal for the Turk; who is meant for headers like these and he showed it.
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