New signing Beto netted a debut goal to kickstart an Everton comeback as Sean Dyche's men came from a goal behind to beat Doncaster Rovers 2-1 on Wednesday evening in the Carabao Cup.
Joe Ironside’s first-half header gave the hosts a one-goal advantage at the Eco-Power Stadium, and they managed to hold their lead until late into the second half.
The Toffees produced an improved display after the restart, and Beto, a half-time substitute for the Blues, scored in the 73rd minute to fire the Toffees level.
With just two minutes left of the 90, Arnaut Danjuma struck the winner to rescue the result, and send Everton into the next round of the competition.
Dyche made four changes to the side that suffered a narrow defeat to Wolves on Saturday, with Youssef Chermiti making his first start for the Toffees, while Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey, and Vitalii Mykolenko also came into the team.
The Blues lined up in a 4-5-1 formation. Lewis Dobbin and Danjuma provided the width on the flanks, while Chermiti spear-headed the attack. Amadou Onana, James Garner, and Abdoulaye Doucoure made up the midfield.
In the opening minute, there was an early scare for Jordan Pickford, after his miscontrol led to an opportunity for the home side.
After that mishap, Doncaster enjoyed a lively start, spurred on by a rowdy atmosphere – particularly behind the goal of Pickford.
Doncaster captain Tommy Rowe came close from a cleverly played corner kick in the 23rd minute. Arriving into the box, he struck his effort first time, but it flew over the Everton goal.
Zain Westbrooke’s long-range effort offered a further threat to the Blues. The Doncaster midfielder drilled it low, and Pickford watched as it fired past his left post.
The Toffees' first sight on goal arrived in the 41st minute through Danjuma. The Dutchman squared up the full-back, creeping towards the edge of the box as he did so, before playing a sharp one-two with Doucoure. Receiving it back, Danjuma was through on goal, but blasted his effort just inches wide of the far corner.
Everton paid for not taking the earlier chance, when just four minutes later, Ironside nodded Doncaster into a 1-0 lead.
The home side played the corner short, and the ball arrived at the feet of Rowe, who clipped his cross behind the Everton defence. Free in the box, summer signing Ironside leapt to head the ball into the back of the net.
Clearly unhappy with a poor first 45 minutes, Dyche made three changes to begin the second period.
Beto, making his Everton debut, came on for Chermiti, while the experienced heads of Idrissa Gana Gueye and Ashley Young arrived on the field in place of Dobbin and Nathan Patterson.
The Blues looked more comfortable after the restart, with bright touches from Beto, along with Young, and Garner, who operated in the right-back position.
Despite the improvement in possession, Doncaster threatened to double their lead just minutes into the half. Mykolenko’s crucial block ensured the scoreline remained as it was.
Everton pushed for an equaliser in the final half-hour and managed to find their goal in the 73rd minute.
Out on the left wing, Doucoure played an incisive pass through the Rovers’ backline. Beto, running through on goal, edged in front of his man, before flicking the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper Ian Lawlor.
Continuing his impressive start in royal blue, Beto came close to a debut brace less than 10 minutes later. His bullet header from Gana’s cross crashed against the Doncaster post.
Garner came close to finding a winner during the final few minutes of normal time when he latched onto Danjuma’s cross from the left, but the young midfielder’s effort was blocked before it found the target.
The Toffees sustained their pressure and found a second goal in the 88th minute through Danjuma.
Ambitiously running towards the Doncaster area, the Blues’ winger dug out a shot, which flew low past Lawlor and into the Rovers’ net.
Beto scored a second in the final few seconds of the contest, but it was ruled out for offside, and Everton had to settle for a 2-1 victory in a difficult evening for Dyche's side.
