Everton staged a dramatic comeback win to seal their top-flight status, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late winner let Goodison Park erupt with joy.
Everton have secured their Premier League status after fighting an intense relegation battle for months. Frank Lampard will be happy to see his side show the spirit and pull themselves out of the danger zone with one game to go in the season.
The Toffees had to do it the hard way and dramatically enough for their entire stadium to erupt with joy. Many supporters took to the pitch after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 85th-minute winner ensured Everton’s fate was sealed for the better after a dramatic comeback victory over Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace took the initiative in a fiercely contested first half between the sides. Richarlison came the closest to scoring after his effort struck the crossbar. Five minutes later, Jean-Philippe Mateta headed in from a free-kick to give the visitors the lead and silence Goodison Park.
There was a call to show Jordan Ayew the red card due to a heavy challenge on Anthony Gordon. While the decision did not go Everton’s way, it haunted them later as the Ghanaian added a second from a close-range tap-in. At the half-time whistle, many were resigned to Everton having to fight for their safety on the last day of the season, but fate had other ideas.
Wholesome reaction to Everton's comeback win ? pic.twitter.com/AbHnfHCwjb
— GOAL (@goal) May 19, 2022
The Toffees began the second half with intent, and in the 54th minute, Michael Keane controlled the ball and finished it superbly to bring hope back into Goodison Park. It took until the 75th minute for the next goal, as Richarlison’s deflected shot went past Jack Butland, and now Everton had belief.
Calvert-Lewin’s late strike gave Everton the lead, sending the Toffees on course to secure their safety in the unlikeliest of circumstances. The comeback win will go down as one of their most important games. Everton remain in the top-flight and can go into the last day in a relaxed mood. Here’s how the players fared as Everton secured a superb comeback victory over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park.
Everton
Jordan Pickford: 6/10
Pickford’s effort to keep out Crystal Palace’s second goal raised plenty of questions, but the Everton goalkeeper redeemed himself by making crucial saves in the second half. He denied Mateta from close range, possibly altering the game’s outcome while also keeping out some more efforts to keep the scores intact.
Seamus Coleman: 4/10
Coleman struggled against Wilfried Zaha and Jeffrey Schlupp in the first half. His defensive game improved drastically in the second period as he was alert to potential danger caused by the Ivorian winger. But the Everton captain lost the ball in the build-up to the second Crystal Palace goal.
Michael Keane: 7/10
Keane was very frustrating in the first half as he could not hold the backline together. But he made amends by expertly finishing a well-controlled ball and then striking it with the outside of his foot to pull a goal back for Everton, thus starting the improbable comeback.
⚽️? | MICHAEL KEANE MAKES IT 1-2! pic.twitter.com/oCyDNbBJgV
— EvertonHub (@evertonhub_) May 19, 2022
Mason Holgate: 6/10
One has to give massive credit to Holgate for knocking the ball down for Keane’s goal and then leading his defence by example in the second half. The defender was shaky in the first period, and the two Crystal Palace goals exposed his deficiencies at the back.
Alex Iwobi: 7/10
Iwobi added some much-needed energy in the second-half fightback, as he was a creative threat from a central area. He was fine earlier in a wing-back role, but Everton had a lot of joy with his hard work from the central areas.
Abdoulaye Doucoure: 6/10
After a terrible first half, Doucoure stepped up considerably for his team and was robust in his output. He had one great chance to send the ball through to the forwards and made a hash of it.
Andre Gomes: 2/10
Gomes was terrible in the first half, and he showed no desire to play for the team when each player was required to perform at their best. He got hooked off at half-time, and this could have been his last ever start for Everton.
Vitaliy Mykolenko: 5/10
A decent second-half display masked a bad first period. Mykolenko had good moments on the flank that he should have used well.
Anthony Gordon: 5/10
Gordon could not find his feet in the game, as he struggled to get anything meaningful in the final third. He produced a hard-working performance, which lacked the edge. He got taken off for Demarai Gray, which eventually proved the right decision.
Richarlison: 8/10
Richarlison’s game by numbers vs Crystal Palace:
100% tackles won (3/3)
31 total touches
5 shots attempted (2 shots on target)
4 ground duels won
4 crosses played
2 ball recoveries
1 goal scoredStepped up in Everton’s survival race. ?? pic.twitter.com/hufOEbpfTX
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 19, 2022
Richarlison’s performance did not deserve such a high rating, but the euphoria his equalising goal managed to create inside the stadium certainly befits the number. He scored with his left foot to level the score and ensured Everton were in the fight until the end.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 8/10
Calvert-Lewin got the decibels rising inside Goodison Park after netting his winner in the 85th minute. That goal was one of the most important strikes in Everton’s recent history, keeping them in the Premier League and erasing any lingering fear of relegation.
The Gwladys Street effect™️@CalvertLewin14 ? pic.twitter.com/aPYdwTSySs
— Everton (@Everton) May 19, 2022
SUBSTITUTES
Dele Alli: 8/10
Alli made a massive impact after replacing Gomes at half-time, as he added the bite on the pitch, which enabled Everton to push forward and attack more. Sending the midfielder in was an inspired move by Lampard, who deserves credit.
Demarai Gray: 7/10
The second top-notch substitution Lampard made, as Gray had a telling impact, including the excellent set-piece delivery, which fell invitingly for Calvert-Lewin to place his header past Jack Butland.
Jonjoe Kenny: N/A
A late substitution to protect the narrow lead.
Crystal Palace
Jack Butland: 5/10
Butland produced a decent performance in the first half but could only watch the Crystal Palace defence crumble in the second period. The English goalkeeper could not do much about any of the Everton goals.
Nathaniel Clyne: 6/10
Clyne was an active threat down the right flank in the first half. He spent the second period defending his line as Everton piled on the pressure, and the full-back did a decent job there.
Joachim Andersen: 5/10
Like all of Crystal Palace’s defenders, Andersen had a decent first period but capitulated in the second half, unable to deal with Everton’s growing pressure. The Dane could not clear the ball under pressure inside the box, which fell to Richarlison to score the equaliser.
Marc Guehi: 6.5/10
An impressive performance at the back, as Guehi was dominant with his game. But he could not have done anything about the Everton goals and will be disappointed that such a promising night ended in defeat.
Tyrick Mitchell: 5/10
Mitchell combined well with Zaha on the left flank in the first half. He was put under a lot of pressure, first from Gordon’s energetic runs, and later by Gray’s movements.
Will Hughes: 7/10
A tremendous performance from Hughes, who controlled the midfield. Unfortunately, he left the field after complaining of migraine, which changed the game’s outcome, as, before that, Everton were unable to find a way through.
Jeffrey Schlupp: 6.5/10
As Hughes wielded control of midfield, it gave Schlupp the confidence and freedom to torment Everton’s defence. He was involved in some brilliant link-up play, and with the moments that he had, something more should have come of it.
Eberechi Eze: 8/10
Eze was Crystal Palace’s best player, as the Everton defenders could not get anywhere near him. That one moment where he wriggled the ball with ease and through the backline was brilliant, only for a slip inside the box to prevent him from scoring an inspired strike.
Jordan Ayew: 7/10
Ayew was fortunate to avoid a red card for his challenge on Gordon but soon made the decision count with a goal to double Crystal Palace’s lead. That was also his first away strike in nearly two years.
This is the FIRST time Crystal Palace have lost a game after Jordan Ayew scored. pic.twitter.com/wnyb56qUPW
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) May 19, 2022
Jean-Philippe Mateta: 6.5/10
Mateta was a physical presence, always looking to hold the ball and bring others into play. He scored Crystal Palace’s first goal, a well taken strike, and the centre-forward continued to ask many questions of the Everton defence after that.
Wilfried Zaha: 7/10
Another consistent display from Zaha. There were some feisty moments as usual, but nothing that made him lose control of his game.
SUBSTITUTES
Luka Milivojevic: 4/10
Milivojevic could not assert himself the way Hughes did before him.
Conor Gallagher: 5/10
Gallagher brought energy into Crystal Palace’s attack momentarily but was unfortunate to get the deflection that led to Richarlison’s equaliser.
Christian Benteke: N/A
He did not get much chance or time to impress.
