Romelu Lukaku extended his red-hot streak as the Everton striker's late
equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Monday.
Lukaku has been in superb form over the last month and Palace were
unable to subdue the Belgium international, who poked home from
close-range with nine minutes remaining at Goodison Park.
The former Chelsea star now has 50 goals in 100 appearances for Everton
since first joining them on loan in 2013 before making what now looks a
bargain £28 million ($42 million, 38 million euros) permanent move a
year later.
He has 14 goals in all competitions this season, with seven of that total coming in his last six matches.
Lukaku's latest crucial intervention was well-timed, coming just five
minutes after Palace defender Scott Dann had headed the visitors into
the lead.
Everton moved up to ninth place in the Premier League in extending their
unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions, while Palace climbed
to the lofty heights of sixth.
"I am proud but I'm a team performer, so I'm happy with the record but
disappointed we didn't get the three points," Lukaku said of his goal
milestone.
"After their goal we reacted well, it shows we have great character in the team."
Everton had scored 10 in their last two home league matches, but if the
watching Wayne Rooney was expecting another goal spree from his former
club, the Manchester United captain was destined to leave disappointed.
Instead he had to make do with appreciating the talents of the powerful Lukaku and his Everton teammate Ross Barkley.
In a low-key first half, Lukaku was unlucky not to open the scoring when
his shot beat Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey but rebounded off the
inside of the far post and flew across the face of goal.
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard's legs came to the rescue after the break to deny Yannick Bolasie on the breakaway.
Then Dann's blushes were spared only by the crossbar as he almost headed
Barkley's in-swinging free-kick past Hennessey into his own net.
Liverpool fan Dann thought he had completed a memorable Merseyside
double, having scored the winner at Anfield a month ago, when he headed
in from a corner in the 76th minute.
But Lukaku had the final word with nine minutes to go when he converted
Gerard Deulofeu's low cross with an outstretched boot from virtually on
the goalline.
Monday, 7 December 2015
Lukaku salvages draw for Everton
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