Blues Grab Solid Point But Rue Missed Chances At Sunderland

Iliman Ndiaye’s majestical solo goal helped Everton to a hard-earned point at high-flying Sunderland – but it could have been even more after a flurry of first-half chances for the Blues.

James Garner set the tone after just nine seconds, smacking a fierce effort just wide, before Ndiaye stunned the Stadium of Light on 15 minutes, gliding his way past three players and curling a 20-yard finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

It could – and should – have been more as the Toffees dominated their hosts in the opening half hour, Jack Grealish hitting the post and Thierno Barry firing over from three yards out.

That proved crucial as Sunderland rediscovered the form behind their impressive start since their Premier League return, levelling a minute into the second half when Granit Xhaka’s 20-yard effort took a horrible deflection off James Tarkowski to beat Jordan Pickford.

Despite being second best from there, Everton had a golden opportunity to win it in injury-time as substitute Charly Alcaraz was played clean through, only to delay his shot and allow the Black Cats to escape.

Much was made before kick-off about the vocal Sunderland fans in their first night match since their Premier League return. But that was silenced with just nine seconds on the clock when Barry – in the team for Beto – headed down into the path of Garner who powered a low 20-yard drive that whistled inches past the left-hand post.

The France Under-21 international was then involved in Everton’s deserved 15^th-minute lead – even though the plaudits rightly went to the quite breathtaking work of Ndiaye.

Barry robbed Noah Sadiki of possession on the right touchline 30 yards from goal and Ndiaye took up the script from there, dancing his way past three Sunderland defenders and curling a pinpoint left-foot finish beyond Roefs from the edge of the area.

The only frustration about the Blues’ opener is how they couldn’t build from there as a flurry of chances followed. Idrissa Gana Gueye squared to Grealish who curved a fine 20-yard shot that bounced back off the post.

And the popular loanee turned provider just before the half-hour mark, collecting the ball down the left after a well-worked move involving Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Garner and lofting a superb ball to the back post that Barry put over the bar from close range with the goal at his mercy.

The let-offs boosted the hosts, who took control from there, upping the pressure before the break and levelling just one minute into the second half, albeit in lucky circumstances when Xhaka’s shot from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection off Tarkowski and beat Pickford.

Having been so dominant for the first 30 minutes of the encounter, the Blues were left holding on for a point in the closing stages, with Beto, Dwight McNeil, Charly Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam all brought off the bench to try to turn the tide.

There was no doubt the Blues had been second best since the break – but Alcaraz should have won it in injury-time, Grealish threading a perfect through ball, only for the Argentine to halt pulling the trigger, and with it went his side’s chance of victory.