After a thrilling Manchester Derby at the Etihad Stadium, it would have been a bit too much to ask for Everton and Tottenham Hotspur to provide a similar level of entertainment at Goodison Park. They didn't, of course, but there was plenty of fun to be had as Everton came back with two goals in the last four minutes to emerge as 2-1 winners.
Everton vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Final score 2-1 as late goals sink Spurs
The Toffees were the better side throughout, and would have felt aggrieved not to have taken advantage of their many opportunities before Clint Dempsey struck for the visitors in the 76th minute. The American's shot probably wouldn't have beaten compatriot Tim Howard but for a deflection. Spurs didn't care -- they were 1-0 up and heading for an important win.
Well, until they went into meltdown mode. With Leighton Baines supplying the crosses and Marouane Fellaini providing the height, Hugo Lloris' goal was always under serious threat despite Andre Villas-Boas' defensive substitutions.
But the 90th-minute equaliser didn't come from a Baines cross or via Fellaini's aerial presence. Instead, Steven Naismith slipped Seamus Coleman in down the right, and he picked out the diminutive figure of Steven Pienaar, who nodded home to give the Toffees a deserved goal, albeit one that Lloris probably should have stopped.
Said equaliser didn't mark the end of Everton's attacking threat, and seconds later they were in front. It's not entirely clear what Apostolos Vellios was trying to do when he made an overhead kick attempt near the penalty spot, but the ball ended up falling straight into the path of Nikica Jelavic, who finished first-time to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.
Full time came shortly thereafter, and Spurs were left to reflect on a match that saw them drop into fifth place on goal differential.
See More:
