Romelu Lukaku was Everton’s inspiration again on
Thursday, scoring twice in the 3-1 win over Young
Boys to seal UEFA Europa League progress.
Young Boys were again unable to cope with Romelu
Lukaku on Thursday as the Belgian scored twice in
Everton’s 3-1 win at Goodison Park to help ensure
a last-16 place in the UEFA Europa League.
Lukaku scored a hat-trick in the 4-1 first-leg
victory at the Stade de Suisse, and added two more
at Goodison Park to fend off an early fightback from
the Swiss side and seal progression.
Young Boys reduced the three-goal deficit with
Sekou Sanogo’s 13th-minute opener but a two-goal
salvo from Romelu Lukaku inside half an hour took
any glimmer of hope away from the Swiss side.
Kevin Mirallas added a third before the interval –
before Lukaku was given a breather early in the
second half ahead of Sunday’s Premier League
clash with Arsenal.
Even without Lukaku to deal with, Uli Forte’s side
were unable to make any headway as they are left
to focus on their Swiss Super League title challenge
after a convincing defeat over the two legs.
Roberto Martinez and Everton will look forward to
their first European last-16 tie since 2008, having
progressed shortly after rivals Liverpool were sent
out of the same competition on penalties against
Besiktas.
Despite trailing by three goals in the tie, Young Boys
began well against an Everton side showing five
changes from Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester
City.
Forte’s men came into the game after a 4-2 win
over Swiss champions Basel and were given hope
when Sanogo prodded home from close range amid
questionable goalkeeping from Tim Howard and
Everton’s offside appeals.
After Rapha Nuzzolo fired an effort at goal, Milan
Vilotic got a touch with his head and, when Howard
fumbled, Sanogo was on hand to nudge in the
opener.
Scott Sutter – one of five to come in from the win
against Basel – crashed Gonzalo Zarate’s corner
off the crossbar but the visitors’ momentum was
curtailed when Marco Wolfli upended Steven
Naismith in the area.
Lukaku’s backheel caused the initial danger and the
Belgium international took his Europa League tally to
five from the spot before volleying home Luke
Garbutt’s cross from the left five minutes later.
When Mirallas slotted Darron Gibson’s pass beyond
Wolfli, the game was put further beyond Young
Boys’ reach with Lukaku replaced by Arouna Kone
shortly after the break.
With the tie all but over, and Everton’s focal point
Lukaku given the remainder of the game off,
chances dried up as Martinez introduced Muhamed
Besic for James McCarthy in midfield,
For all Young Boys’ tidiness on the ball, they offered
a limited attacking threat, while Everton came
closest to a fourth when Kone struck the post late
on before Leon Osman’s header was disallowed
due to a foul from the substitute on Vilotic.
posted from Bloggeroid
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