Under-21s Secure International Cup Point Against Mönchengladbach

Everton Under-21s secured their first point in the Premier League International Cup with a 1-1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach at Walton Hall Park.

Both goals came in the first half, with Scottish youth international striker Ceiran Loney’s close-range effort cancelling out an early opener from Josiah Uwakhonye.

The only change from the Under-21s’ comeback victory over Middlesbrough the previous Friday saw Shea Pita start on the right wing ahead of Jonathan Nsangou, with Harvey Foster returning to the squad and Under-18s midfielder Freddie Murdock named on the substitutes’ bench.

The first chance of the game fell to the Toffees in the fifth minute, and it was close to breaking the deadlock. Midfielder Melvin Matos received a square ball on the edge of the box from Braiden Graham but his side-footed effort flew narrowly wide of Marcello Trippel’s right-hand post.

Toffees goalkeeper George Pickford had to be alert to make a smart save with his feet two minutes later as Finnish midfielder Taavi Koukkumäki shifted in the box away from centre-back Luis Gardner and found space for a shot.

But Mönchengladbach would take the lead moments later. Captain Nico Vidic, on the turn, played a stunning through ball that split midfield and defence to find Uwakhonye, who was onside and duly slotted past Pickford for 1-0.

Uwakhonye thought he had secured his second in the 17th minute, only for a combination of Gardner and centre-back partner John Dodds to get enough on the ball to deflect it wide.

Slowly but surely however the Toffees wrestled back the initiative from the visitors and started to cause problems through Pita, Graham, Loney and Malik Olayiwola. Very soon, the hosts were on top.

By the 35th minute, Everton had a deserved equaliser through a striker’s finish from Loney. Right-back George Finney and Graham combined nicely on the right, with the latter finding Pita in an advanced position on the wing.

Pita beat his man for pace before clipping a cross to the penalty spot, which Graham flicked on to the back post. Loney wrestled with his marker but got his leg to the ball first, turning it home for his first goal of the season.

Loney thought he had his second minutes later when Pita sent a low ball across the box, but it was just in front of the Toffees’ striker’s outstretched boot.

It could have been 2-1 in added time when Olayiwola, taking the ball on half-way, set off at goal. His dribble to the edge of the box was excellent, leaving one defender trailing in his wake, and his shot looked destined for the top-right corner, only for Trippel to tip the ball onto his near post and breathe a sigh of relief as he watched it roll across the goal-line and away from danger.

The second half began in the same manner as the first, with the Toffees on top but unable to turn their chances into goals, and the game became testy as a series of strong challenges flew in, with eight bookings dished out by referee Zac Kennard-Kettle by the game’s conclusion, six of which were shown to the opposition.

Justin Clarke attempted to force an opening late on after being introduced for Pita, one particularly promising run seeing him battle past three defenders in the box, only for his cross-come-shot to fly wide of the far post.

The Under-21s return to Walton Hall Park on Friday evening, taking on Wolves in Premier League 2 action (7pm kick-off) with the match being streamed on evertontv for evertontv+, Forever Blue+ and Season Ticket Members.

Speaking after the game, Head of Academy Player Development Dave Hughes told evertonfc.com: "I guess it was a fair result in the end. They started well and got their goal and there was a spell for about 10 minutes when we were a bit edgy.

"Our midfield players were too far apart and needed to play closer together. Once we weathered the storm I thought we were right on top and we were very similar for the first half-hour of the second half before they got on top a little bit for the last 10 minutes.