A late penalty for Everton allowed Leighton Baines to salvage a point for the Toffees against Wigan Athletic in an entertaining and somewhat controversial match at the DW Stadium.
Wigan vs. Everton: Final score 2-2-, Late Baines penalty saves Everton
Wigan looked to be on their way to a victory, but a late penalty allowed Leighton Baines to save a point for Everton.
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The match got off to wild start with two goals in the first eleven minutes. Wigan's Shaun Maloney got free in the left side of the Everton box and found Arouna Koné in space between the Everton defenders for a close range header goal. Koné appeared to be offside, but the linesman's flag stayed down.
Everton wasted no time pulling the goal back as Steven Pienaar found Nikica Jelavić lurking at the far post with a cross and the Croatian forward beat Ali Al Habsi with a nice header.
Wigan went back in front in the 23rd minute after some poor defending from Everton allowed Koné to find a trailing Franco Di Santo to beat Tim Howard with a blast from just inside the 18-yard box. It was a great build-up and finish from the Latics, and they went to halftime with a well deserved 2-1 lead.
The second half was pretty much all Everton, though Wigan came close a couple times, as they pressured the Wigan goal heavily. Kevin Miralles had two excellent chances that he couldn't finish, skying one over the crossbar and was denied by a great save from Al Habsi. Everton were denied a fairly clear penalty late when Jelavic was on one leg, in the act of shooting and had his shooting foot blatantly kicked by Maynor Figueroa. Referee Kevin Friend, who hard an extremely rough day, especially with his card decisions, waved the claim away.
Friend couldn’t deny a penalty shout in the 85th minute when Figueroa tripped Miraelles in the box. Former Wigan player Leighton Baines stepped up and blasted a shot past Al Habsi to pull Everton back even.
Wigan’s Maloney just missed a brilliant chance in stoppage time and the match finished a draw.
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