Everton Secures Draw Against Palace with Onana’s Impressive Header
In a thrilling match at Goodison Park, Everton managed to secure a draw against Crystal Palace thanks to Amadou Onana’s impressive header. The goal lifted Everton out of the Premier League’s bottom three and earned them a vital point.
Late Drama at Goodison Park
It was an intense match from start to finish, with both teams creating opportunities to score. Everton’s best chance in the first half came when Dominic Calvert-Lewin rose between two Palace defenders, but his header went wide of the post. Chris Richards and Jean-Philippe Mateta also had headers blocked on the line by Everton defenders.
Jordan Ayew gave Palace the lead with a superb strike into the far corner past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. It looked like Palace would secure all three points until Onana’s late intervention. Onana rose highest to head home from a corner in the 84th minute, rescuing a point for Everton.
Managerial Changes for Palace
The past few days have been eventful for Crystal Palace off the field. It was announced on Monday that Roy Hodgson has stepped down as manager. Former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner has been appointed as his replacement.
Hodgson was taken ill during training last Thursday but is now out of the hospital and doing well. His assistants Paddy McCarthy and Ray Lewington led the team against Everton, with Glasner watching from the stands.
Late Concessions Plague Palace
Crystal Palace will be disappointed with the result as they conceded in the closing stages once again. They have now conceded 17 goals in the last 15 minutes of Premier League games this season, highlighting a pressing issue for new manager Glasner to address.
Everton’s Vital Point
Onana’s header secured a vital draw for Everton in front of their restless home crowd at Goodison Park. The result lifted them out of the relegation zone and will provide a boost in confidence for the team.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton’s top scorer this season, struggled to find the back of the net once again. He missed two great chances to score and has now gone 19 appearances without finding the back of the net. However, Everton’s aerial presence remains a threat, with 52% of their league goals this season coming from set pieces.
Next Steps for Everton
Everton will be looking to end their eight-match winless run in the league when they travel to face Brighton on Saturday. They will be hoping that Onana’s late goal will provide the momentum needed to secure a much-needed victory.
Player of the Match
Adam Wharton was named the Player of the Match, with an average rating of 7.95. Onana received an average rating of 5.63 for his match-winning header.
In conclusion, Everton’s draw against Crystal Palace was a hard-fought result that lifted them out of the relegation zone. Onana’s late header proved to be crucial in securing a point for the team. With managerial changes for Palace and a pressing need to address late concessions, both teams will be looking to make improvements in their upcoming matches.