Brentford 2-2 Everton: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall strikes late as Toffees nick draw after Igor Thiago brace

The race for Europe takes a twist after late drama at the Gtech Stadium

Brentford 2-2 Everton: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall strikes late as Toffees nick draw after Igor Thiago brace
Brentford 2-2 Everton: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall strikes late as Toffees nick draw after Igor Thiago brace Photo: Evening Standard

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall struck an added-time equaliser as Everton salvaged a 2-2 Premier League draw against fellow European hopefuls Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Igor Thiago twice had the hosts on course for victory, becoming the Bees' record scorer in a single Premier League season by taking his tally to 21 with an early penalty and a fortuitous 77th-minute finish.

The two sides remain firmly in the mix for continental qualification but missed the chance to pile pressure on Liverpool and Chelsea in the battle to secure Champions League football through a top-five finish.

Brentford stay seventh after edging on to 47 points following a fourth consecutive league draw, with eighth-placed Everton below on goal difference ahead of next weekend's Merseyside derby.

In a game packed with chances, Kevin Schade and Brentford captain Nathan Collins both headed against the crossbar with the score at 1-1.

Liverpool vs Fulham: Premier League - LIVE
How many points Arsenal need to win Premier League title after setback
Liverpool XI vs Fulham: Starting lineup and confirmed team news
Discover a hidden island paradise in the Indian Ocean
While Everton manager David Moyes has openly embraced the prospect of a European adventure, Bees boss Keith Andrews has been more conservative.

Andrews, who has enjoyed a fine debut season in management since replacing Thomas Frank last summer, watched his side make a dream start.

Schade burst clear of a static defence before being brought down as he attempted to round Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, allowing Thiago to coolly find the bottom left corner from the spot in the third minute.

By converting from 12 yards, the Brazil international, who netted a hat-trick in a 4-2 win over the Toffees in the reverse fixture in January, moved alongside Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbuemo as Brentford players to have scored 20 goals in a Premier League campaign.

Bees goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher produced a solid stop to deny Idrissa Gueye a 22nd-minute leveller before superbly blocking Beto's follow-up effort, albeit the offside flag was raised.

Beto, who scored twice in a thumping 3-0 win over Chelsea prior to the international break, was not to be denied four minutes later.

With the hosts appealing in vain for a possible foul by Jake O'Brien as he dispossessed Keane Lewis-Potter deep in Brentford territory, Gueye delivered from the right and Beto rose to nod into the far corner.

Everton started to take control of the contest but could easily have gone in behind at the break.

Pickford atoned for conceding the early penalty by turning wide from Mathias Jensen and then blocking Dango Ouattara on the rebound after Schade headed against the bar from a corner.

Collins turned Jensen's free-kick against the frame of the goal within three minutes of the restart as Brentford resumed in the ascendancy before Jarrad Branthwaite made a crucial block to thwart Schade.

Brentford looked to have won it with 13 minutes to go when Michael Kayode burst into the box from the right and saw his effort deflect in off Thiago.

Source: This article was originally published by Evening Standard

Read Full Original Article →

Share this article

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Leave a Comment

Maximum 2000 characters