Welch Scores Late To Rescue Point For Everton Under-21s

Everton Under-21s came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at Southampton Under-21s in Premier League 2 on Friday afternoon.

Reece Welch’s stoppage-time header sealed the point for the travelling Toffees, who had taken the lead after just 10 minutes when 17-year-old Demi Akarakiri fired from close range to net his second goal from his past two outings. 

Thierry Rohart-Brown notched a leveller for the hosting Saints. Nicholas Oyekunle added a another early in the second half.

Southampton headed into the contest having taken losses from just two of their 15 Premier League 2 fixtures, but it was Everton who began the brighter of the two sides.

Left-back Joshua van Schoor had made a surging run down left flank, reaching the box and putting in a low cross along the goalmouth. Coby Ebere got a touch, before Demi Akarakiri lashed it home from a few yards out.

Rohart-Brown levelled the score on 35 minutes after a swift Saints move. He took a well-placed touch to make a darting run inside the Everton penalty area. His second touch was a powerful effort past goalkeeper Douglass Lukjanciks.

All square at the interval, the hosts came out full of confidence for the second period.

They edged ahead through Oyekunle on 56 minutes after a chipped ball from the left wing floated to the back post. The under-pressure Everton clearance was knocked across goal, where the Southampton scorer was lurking to nod a downwards header into the net.

Everton were persistent in their push for an equaliser, Coby Ebere driving an effort off the near post midway through the half. 

At the other end, Lukjanciks was called upon to stand firm, making a strong stop to deny a Saints third from pacy winger Sufianu Sillah Dibaga.

But Everton – competitive throughout – notched a last-gasp leveller on 92 minutes when Welch flicked home a header from a Francis Gomez corner to take a well-earned point from the contest. 

For Paul Tait’s Under-21s, their next outing is on Monday 9 March, facing Reading Under-21s in Premier League 2 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.