Sheffield United 2-2 Everton: Late Jordan Pickford heroics see Toffees take point in chaotic affair at Bramall Lane
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Updated 02/09/2023 at 21:07 GMT
Arnaut Danjuma scored the equaliser for Everton as the Toffees earned a 2-2 draw in a chaotic affair at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United in the early game live on TNT Sports. Everton had gone ahead in the first half, only to be pegged back as the home side took the lead first through Cameron Archer, then via an own-goal from Jordan Pickford. After Danjuma’s leveller both sides remain winless.
Jordan Pickford of Everton celebrates during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Everton FC at Bramall Lane on September 2, 2023 in Sheffield, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Sheffield United and Everton each picked up their first point of the season after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane.
Abdoulaye Doucoure gave Everton the lead early on, before Cameron Archer - on his Premier League debut for the Blades - took over.
The England youngster finished off an excellent move to draw the hosts level, before his curling shot went in off the post - and Jordan Pickford - to put his new side in front.
Arnaut Danjuma equalised for Everton early in the second half, but neither side could break the deadlock for a final time.
Only a brilliant triple save from Pickford in the very last minute of injury time kept things level.
Both sides remain in the lower reaches of the table and will be searching for their first win of the new campaign after the international break.
TALKING POINT
Everton have scored, can they now start winning? Doucoure scored the goal that kept Everton in the Premier League last season, and his early strike today ended a drought that had seen his team without a goal in all three matches in August.
The club have recently signed Beto and Youssef Chermiti to bolster their attack while they wait again for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to return from injury and back to form. With Doucoure, Danjuma, Dwight McNeil and Amadou Onana behind them to create chances, the supply and firepower looks to be there to get Everton away from the bottom half of the table.
Everton have been dragged into perilous relegation battles in the last two seasons; with a new stadium on the way for 2024-25, they’ll want the big kick-off to be in the big league. It’s Arsenal up next, who visit Goodison for perhaps the last time. The Toffees turned Mikel Arteta’s team over there last season - can Everton do so again to lift themselves away from the basement of the league?
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Beto (Everton)
Everton look like they might have found what they need up front. Beto scored as a substitute for Everton in the EFL Cup in midweek and marked his Premier League debut here with an impressive display of skill, speed and power that kept Sheffield United’s back three occupied all day.
PLAYER RATINGS
Sheffield United: Fodderingham 6; Ahmedhodzic 7, Egan 6, Robinson 6; Baldock 7, Souza 6, Norwood 6, Hamer 7, Larouci 5; McBurnie 6, Archer 7
Subs: Basham 6, Traore 6, Thomas 6
Everton: Pickford 8; Patterson 6, Tarkowski 7, Branthwaite 6, Young 6; Garner 6, Doucoure 7, Gueye 6, Onana 7, Danjuma 7; Beto 8
Subs: Godfrey 6, McNeil 5
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
14’ GOAL! SHEFFIELD UNITED 0 EVERTON 1 (DOUCOURE) Ashley Young's corner is lofted to Onana at the back stick. Onana heads it down, and it drops to the unmarked Doucoure in the six-yard box. He knees it at goal, Foderingham parries; it falls back to Doucoure, who has a simple tap-in to give Everton the lead!
33’ GOAL! SHEFFIELD UNITED 1 (ARCHER) EVERTON 1 What a lovely move this is. Hamer, from the right, whips a lovely cross into the penalty spot. McBurnie kills it with his back to goal, and lays off to Archer, who sidefoots a lovely strike into the right corner with Pickford rooted. That's a beauty.
45+3’ GOAL! SHEFFIELD UNITED 2 (PICKFORD O.G.) EVERTON 1 The hosts lead! Palmer hooks a ball over his head to release Archer. From there, Archer cuts across the face of the area and unloads a curler off his right. It clangs the post and flies out, only to ricochet off the back of Pickford and into the net.
55’ GOAL! SHEFFIELD UNITED 2 EVERTON 2 (DANJUMA) Everton are level! Excellent refereeing here as play is allowed to run after a few late challenges. They work the ball to Patterson on the right of the area, who fires in a perfect cross to the back post where Danjuma is waiting to place the ball home from close range.
90+9’ WHAT A TRIPLE SAVE! Stand up Jordan Pickford, this is incredible! The corner comes in, and McBurnie has a free header from six yards out. McBurnie heads down and as it bounces up, Pickford pushes it up onto the bar; McBurnie gets to the rebound, which Pickford turns onto the post; that breaks to Traore, Pickford blocks that effort with his foot. Amazing!
KEY STAT
Doucoure’s opening strike ended a run of 316 minutes without a Premier League goal for Everton.
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