U21 NEWS

Cannon Fires Double In U21s' Victory Over PSG

Tom Cannon hit a double as Everton Under-21s maintained their perfect record in the Premier League International Cup with a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at Walton Hall Park.

A day after making his First-Team debut in the Carabao Cup at Bournemouth, Cannon netted twice in the first half, equalising from a Stanley Mills cross and converting a penalty, as Paul Tait's side battled back from a goal down.

It ensured the young Blues followed up a 5-0 triumph over Braga and 4-1 success against Hertha Berlin to make it three wins from three in the competition.

The French side wasted an early chance when Ismael Gharbi pinched the ball near Everton's penalty area but, thankfully, his shot was dragged wide.

Everton looked to press Paris high and their efforts saw them gaining back possession frequently near their opponents' goal.

Cannon was a handful for the visitors all night, and looked to be in on goal for the first time if not for a fantastic recovery tackle by Ethan Bagbonon Boudie after Issac Price’s delicate through ball.


Everton's first real chance came on 10 minutes as Charlie Whitaker climbed highest inside the penalty area to narrowly head over the bar after another excellent Price pass.

But it was Paris who took the lead with 17 minutes on the clock through Ismael Gharbi. The number 10 started and finished a free-flowing move which spread from one wing to the other with Gharbi finding the ball in the Everton penalty area and hitting a low effort into the bottom corner.

Going a goal behind didn't stop Tait’s side, though, as Whitaker looked to hit an instant reply when he was slipped into the PSG penalty area by Sebastian Quirk, only just missing the target with a strong effort.

Keeper Zan-Luk Leban ensured Everton stayed only a goal behind as he got a strong hand behind Dan Bikouta’s powerful drive across goal.

Cannon had his shouts for a penalty waved away as he went down under a heavy challenge in the box, before Mills placed a low effort from outside the area narrowly wide.

The hosts' equaliser came just after the half-hour mark, with Cannon showing his awareness to be in the right place at the right time to fire home Mills’ low cross after the Everton number seven's dizzying run into the penalty on the right wing.

Cannon had his and Everton’s second less than 10 minutes later when he converted a penalty into the bottom right corner which was won when Mills was brought down by a late challenge.

The Blues began the second half as they ended the first, with Whitaker, Cannon and Mackenzie Hunt all having efforts saved or blocked in quick succession as Everton's right wing became a joy for Mills and Roman Dixon to fire crosses into the PSG area.  

Cannon thought he had secured his hat-trick if not for a deft touch to turn his 30-yard wonder strike over the bar.

PSG looked to mount a comeback with 15 minutes of the game to go, and the French side would have been back in the game if not for two excellent saves from stopper Leban to secure victory for Everton.