A very tricky match for Everton as Portsmouth has a pretty strong frontline of Defoe and Kanu, while on the bench, we see Baros and Utaka. The Toffees are without Arteta due to injury.
Yak wins Everton a free kick within 15 seconds and they scored all within one minute!!! Pienaar took the free kick. The ball then bounced akwardly into the lurking Yak who headed the ball in. Assist by Yobo who had the last touch before Yak scored. Everton 1-0 Portsmouth.
Yak wins Everton another free kick with some smart shielding, but Cars balloons the ball over the goal. Everton's passing seemed to be much smoother than the last couple of matches. A nice cross by Ossie in the 15th minute but Yak could not make a clean connection. Very quickly, Everton attacked again through a nice one-two that saw Pienaar put a lovely cross into the penalty area. Timmy pounced on it but once again, the connection was a soft one and the ball was subsequently cleared away from the penalty area.
Everton is holding the game well and they definitely need to score a second to ensure that the Toffees will not endure a nervy end in the last 10 minutes. Loads of lovely touches that totally carved open Portsmouth's defence in the 24th minute. Ossie struck the ball but was off target.
The Toffees have been able to both defend and attack as a unit. Everton seems to be able to throw bodies up front with ease and speed. Pony-haired Pienaar has another opportunity in the 32nd minute but the ball flew past the left upright.
Crafty little Defoe has scored against Everton. Everton 1-1 Portsmouth.
Portsmouth are giving Everton some problems in the second half and Moyes might need to bring in a runner, someone who can stretch their opponent. Suddenly, the field looks so big to Everton as they are losing so many balls and are chasing the shadows of Portsmouth's players. Everton needs to get back their self belief.
Hibbo is replaced by AJ in the 65th minute and made an immediate impact. He latched onto the ball and pressed the opposing defenders back. A lovely low cross which Pienaar could not convert.
Finally, Everton takes the lead! Timmy has broken his duck after a tough season of injury. Yak shielded the ball really well and he pushed it back to Pienaar who made a lovely cross for the unmark Timmy to score. What a header. Everton 2-1 Portsmouth.
What a finish!!! A total striker's goal by Yak. A route one by AJ in the 81st minute that saw Yak picking up the ball. A little shimmy created some space between Yak and his marker and the vicious strike by Yak saw the ball whizzing past the opposing goalkeeper. Everton 3-1 Portsmouth.
A lovely header by Yobo in the 87th minute nearly saw Everton extend their lead. Pienaar is replaced by Bainesy. Sheer hard work by Pienaar, who deserves to be in the ranks of Everton.
Score: Everton 3-1 Portsmouth
Scorer: Yak (2), Timmy
Assist: Yobo, Pienaar, AJ
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