English hopes of progress in Europe remain in the balance but, crucially for Everton, deservedly intact. Romelu Lukaku became the club’s leading goalscorer in a European campaign to seal an impressive recovery against Dynamo Kyiv and put the quarter-finals within reach of Roberto Martínez’s polarising team.
For 35 minutes the Europa League first-leg tie reflected the contrasting domestic fortunes of the competitors. Everton were ponderous in possession, careless in defence and simmering tension within the Goodison Park crowd erupted several times. It was not only a polished Dynamo team, unbeaten at the summit of the Ukrainian league this season, that Everton were up against.
However, in Lukaku, indeed throughout the spine of the team, with Phil Jagielka excelling in central defence and Gareth Barry recapturing influential form in midfield, Everton showed the fight, speed and quality that has been misplaced in the Premier League to transform the contest. From the moment Everton’s £28m striker forced the first save from Oleksandr Shovkovskiy shortly before the interval until the final whistle, the home side rediscovered their verve and dominated.
Steven Naismith cancelled out Oleh Gusev’s cheap opener and, with eight minutes remaining, Lukaku rolled a penalty down the centre of the Dynamo goal to secure a merited victory. Sergei Rebrov’s side faded badly after a confident start and, despite home advantage and the benefit of an away goal to come, provided Everton with enough encouragement to finish the job in Kiev next week. Another display of attacking intent, rather than attempting to preserve a slender lead, would seem the safest option.
“There was a huge contrast between the first 25 minutes and the rest of the game,” said Martínez. “We started like we have played in the Premier League this season with a lot of anxiety, a lack of tempo and no forward intent. Then we gave a goal away cheaply and made life very difficult for ourselves, but I couldn’t be prouder of our reaction. We began to play with more freedom and showed what a really good team we are. We continually attacked with wave after wave and showed good awareness against a Dynamo team with excellent individuals.”
The Everton manager’s analysis brooked no argument. The problematic opening demonstrated the pressure he is under while attempting to regain fans’ confidence, with Goodison bemoaning sideways passing into harmless territory before Gusev swept the visitors into an early lead.
Antolín Alcaraz, somehow selected ahead of the bombed Sylvain Distin with John Stones sidelined through illness, conceded possession to Dynamo in central midfield and made matters worse by heading Gusev’s left-wing delivery across his own goalmouth. James McCarthy completed the mess by slicing a clearance out for a corner and then urged an irate Gwladys Street to calm down. The supporters behind Tim Howard’s goal were right to be concerned as Gusev spun away from Ross Barkley and McCarthy to flick Andriy Yarmolenko’s corner inside the goalkeeper’s near post.
It was also the cue for open hostility from the home crowd towards the manager’s tactics. “The crowd is intelligent and knows we are an honest team,” said Martínez. “Once we find the tempo and freedom in our play we are a very good team and we showed that. This is a moment when we need each other more than ever.”
That Everton departed to a rousing reception at half- and full-time demonstrated the extent of their recovery. Lukaku led the response, shooting wide from distance after the Dynano keeper sliced a clearance to his feet and forcing Shovkovskiy into a fine save from a 25-yard free-kick. From the resulting corner by the impressive young left-back Luke Garbutt, Danilo Silva cleared off the line from Jagielka’s back-post header.
Everton finally had momentum in their attacking play and equalised when Lukaku spun away superbly from Aleksandar Dragovic, held off three other Dynamo players and released Naismith into the area. The Scotland international struck a confident finish under the Ukrainian goalkeeper and the comeback was on.
The home side increased the pressure after the restart, with Garbutt’s accurate set pieces, Lukaku’s tireless work along the front line and Barry’s composure instrumental in pegging back Dynamo. Naismith, Lukaku, Garbutt and the substitute Arouna Koné all tested Shovkovskiy as Everton strived for the first-leg advantage Martinez had admitted they needed to take to Kiev next week.
It finally came in the 82nd minute when McCarthy released Leon Osman inside the area and Silva blocked the substitute’s cross with a raised arm. Lukaku scored his seventh European goal of the campaign, a new Everton record, and Martínez had a merited reprieve.
