London (AFP)
Everton launched its 2020/2021 season perfectly with a second success in a row against the promoted West Bromwich Albion (5-2), Saturday, thanks to a hat-trick from striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but also the first goal from James Rodriguez.
With 6 points in two days and a goal difference of +4, Everton temporarily takes the lead of the standings, while for West Brom, 0 points and -6 goal difference, after the setback (0-3) at home against Leicester in the opening, show the way that remains to be covered if he does not want to make the elevator.
Their executioner was Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who already scored the decisive goal at Tottenham on Matchday 1.
This time he scored a hat-trick, an aerial heel in the 6 meters (1-1, 31st), a tackle to push into the goal a pass from Richarlison (4-2, 62nd) and a header acrobatic on a corner from James Rodriguez (5-2, 66th).
The Colombian had already signaled in the first act by giving the advantage to the Toffees with a cross strike at and low to the ground devilishly precise from the left at 22 meters just before the break (2-1, 45th).
The last goal was the work of defender Michael Keane, who picked up a ball trailing in the area after a corner from Lucas Digne (3-2, 54th).
The result is a little harsh for the promoted who is not without talent, as shown by the two goals of his wingers.
Grady Diangana, snatched from West Ham for 18 million pounds, first opened the scoring by going up almost the entire field to score 23 meters against a very timid Blues defense (0-1, 10th).
The Brazilian Matheus Pereira, best player in the Championship (D2) last year, then sent a master free-kick coiled about 26 meters into the skylight of Jordan Pickford (2-2, 46th) to temporarily restore his own to level.
But "WBA" will have to work defensively and psychologically, because the double expulsion of his side Kieran Gibbs in the extra time of the first act, to see James Rodriguez hit in the face, and that of the coach Slaven Bilic who had gone to see the The referee on the lawn to demand explanations vehemently at the break cost a lot of money for a team that will have no margin this season in the top flight.
© 2020 AFP