Blues Round Off Pre-Season With Roma Draw

Everton rounded off their pre-season preparations on Saturday evening with a 1-1 draw in a competitive friendly contest at Goodison Park against Roma. 

Things started poignantly in front of a near-capacity crowd of 31,324 for what was the Blues’ final-ever pre-season fixture at Goodison, with a minute's applause to remember those who lost their lives in the shocking tragedy in Southport 12 days earlier. 

It proved a welcome stern test for Sean Dyche's side with the Serie A outfit also playing their final friendly outing before starting their league campaign next weekend. They drew first blood when Lorenzo Pellegrini latched onto a lofted ball into the box to put Daniele De Rossi's men ahead. 

However, the Blues improved as the game progressed and drew level through Calvert-Lewin after some fine centre-forward play just past the hour mark. 

Jordan Pickford returned to the Blues’ starting lineup after enjoying an extended break due to his participation in Euro 2024 with England and was called into action early on. Roma forward Arterm Dovbyk beat Everton’s offside trip to go clear at goal, however, the Blues’ stopper stood tall forcing the forward to drag his effort wide. 

Everton started finding their groove soon after, with Tim Iroegbunam instrumental in a lot of the Blues' good early play. In the 11th minute, the summer recruit played a nice one-two on the edge of the box before lifting a delicate ball to Dwight McNeil at the back post - the cross just evaded the charging winger. 

Dyche's men continued to threaten the Roma goal, with Jack Harrison aiming a tantalising cross towards Calvert-Lewin which just escaped Everton No.9 minutes later.

Everton, though, were dealt a minor blow when Seamus Coleman was forced to exit the field just after the half-hour mark, Ashley Young taking his place. 

Then the deadlock was broken with six minutes of the half remaining. Matias Soule chipped a long pass towards Pellegrini who’d drifted unmarked in the Everton box. The attacker produced a composed finish to put the away side 1-0 ahead. 

Everton came out strong in the second half and pulled themselves level 15 minutes after the restart.

McNeil played a curled pass for Calvert-Lewin to chase. Roma defender Evan Ndicka looked best placed to sweep up, but the Everton forward muscled him off the ball before driving towards goal. Ndicka tried to recover but was turned by a nice piece of skill by Calvert-Lewin in the box, he then had the composure to slot home past Mile Svilar. 

Changes followed with new signings Jesper Lindstrøm and Illiman Ndiaye gracing Goodison's pitch in front of the Evertonians for the first time, replacing Doucoure and McNeil.

Ndiaye didn't take long to make an impact, producing a superb 360-degree spin in the middle of the pitch to evade a Roma challenge before drilling a low strike from 25-yards-out that had Svilar beat but just whizzed wide following a deflection from defender Gianluca Mancini. 

Then, playing in a more advanced central role following the changes, Harrison helped force a Roma turnover deep inside their own half, setting Calvert-Lewin free to try and put Everton ahead. This time, Svilar was a match for the forward, producing a great stretching save to deny his lobbed effort. 

At this stage, it was all one-way traffic with Dyche's men looking a threat with every attack. 

Roma mustered up their first real attack of the half with 12 minutes remaining when Pickford was forced into a good low save from substitute Stephan El Shaarawy's strike from the edge of the box. 

Beto and Academy graduate Harrison Armstrong then joined the fray for the final 10 minutes in place of goalscorer Calvert-Lewin and Iroegbunman. 

Next up for Everton is the start of their Premier League campaign as they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Goodison Park on Saturday 17 August (3pm kick-off BST).