Gana Goal Not Enough Against Hammers

Everton could not build on Idrissa Gana Gueye’s first-half opener as they went down 2-1 to West Ham United in their Premier League Summer Series clash at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Skippering the Blues for the second match of the pre-season competition in the USA, Gana put David Moyes’ side in front on 17 minutes when he collected Harrison Armstrong’s well-timed past to slot home.

But the Hammers were allowed a route back into the contest shortly before half-time as Lucas Paqueta took advantage of a defensive error to put into an empty net. And the winner came on 64 minutes when substitute Niklas Fullkrug drove an angled shot into the bottom right-hand corner from 20 yards out.

Despite the scoreline, there was a positive for Everton, with James Tarkowski coming off the bench to make his first appearance since tearing his hamstring in early May.

Summer signing Mark Travers was given the nod between the sticks, while Michael Keane recovered from a minor knock to start in a three-man centre-back partnership with Jake O’Brien and Vitalii Mykolenko. There was also a spot on the bench for fit-again Tarkowski and, in midfield, Tim Iroegbunam and Armstrong started in place of James Garner and Charly Alcaraz.

Travers had to be alert with just seconds on the clock when Keane’s attempted back pass went straight to Callum Marshall whose shot was turned behind by the Irishman.

The Blues put together their first well-worked move on nine minutes, Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil combining for the latter to cut a low ball across goal from the left where captain Gana’s finish looked to be blocked by the hand of a West Ham defender. Despite appeals, however, referee Rosendo Mendoza waved play on.

There was no denying Gana the opener on 17 minutes, though. Armstrong did well to nip ahead of Kaelan Casey just inside Everton’s half to have a free run towards goal. The Academy graduate waited for the right moment to slide in Gana to his right and, although the Senegalese’s shot didn’t have the angle he would have liked, it was enough to beat Wes Foderingham.

After Travers did well to parry Andy Irving’s drive from the edge of the area, Vitalii Mykolenko headed wide a deep looping cross from Nathan Patterson. Moments later, Iroegbunam robbed Irving of possession inside West Ham’s area that left him clean through but the Londoners were left off when Mendoza, perhaps harshly, ruled the Blues midfielder had pulled down his opponent.

Boss Moyes was not happy with the mistakes Everton made in their Premier League Summer Series opener against Bournemouth and would have been less than impressed when West Ham were gifted an equaliser four minutes before the break. Max Kilman pumped a long ball into the box and, after Travers failed to get a clean punch away, Paqueta was able to tap into an empty net.

Moyes opted for three changes at the start of the second half – James Garner, Charly Alcaraz and Thierno Barry coming on for Patterson, Iroegbunam and Beto respectively.

Two of the substitutes combined for the next opportunity, Alcaraz and Barry playing a neat one-two on the edge of the area before the Argentine blasted over a difficult chance from 20 yards.

Alcaraz went for goal again just past the hour mark, McNeil’s left-wing free-kick being headed into the path of the midfielder, who took a touch and smacked a half volley wide.

West Ham had done little to trouble the Toffees since the restart, but they went ahead on 64 minutes. Garner was unfortunate to lose his footing when racing out to win a header, allowing substitute Fullkrug to move to the edge of the area and angle a well-placed finish into the bottom right-hand corner.

There was a positive soon after, with Tarkowski making his first appearance of pre-season, having recovered from a torn hamstring sustained against Ipswich Town in May. The centre-back came on for Gana, with Youssef Chermiti replacing Ndiaye.

The Blues threatened again with 76 minutes on the clock as Mykolenko swung in a teasing centre from the left that Alcaraz nodded wide.

And moments after Isaac Heath replaced McNeil, Keane crossed from the opposite flank after a cleared corner that O’Brien should have done better with his head.

Everton went close again with three minutes remaining, O’Brien firing in a peach of a low delivery from the right that an outstretched Barry got a touch to, but not enough to divert home.

The Blues now go to Atlanta to face Manchester United in their final Premier League Summer Series match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday (10pm BST/ 5pm ET).

Everton: Travers, Patterson (Garner 46), O’Brien, Keane, Mykolenko, McNeil (Heath 79), Gana (c) (Tarkowski 69), Iroegbunam (Alcaraz 46), Armstrong, Ndiaye (Chermiti 69), Beto (Barry 46).

Subs: Pickford, Tyrer, Clarke, Onyango, Thomas.