Manchester United – Everton: Cristiano Ronaldo, on the substitutes’ bench, equalizes with a goal from Andros Townsend
In midweek, Ronaldo scored a spectacular goal in the 95th minute to secure a 2-1 victory over Villarreal in the Champions Leaguebut could not decide Saturday’s match in United’s favor.
A powerful shot from Anthony Martial gave United the lead just before half-time, although Everton earned a draw.
Ronaldo came on just before the hour mark, but a few minutes after his arrival he could only watch as Everton equalized with a shot from Andros Townsend that beat David de Gea after a counterattacking play involving Demarai Gray and Abdoulaye Doucouré.
Everton could have even taken the three points after a corner kick, but Yerry Mina’s goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review.
Celebration “Siuuuuu
After scoring his fifth goal in nine games for Everton, Townsend celebrated by imitating Ronaldo’s trademark “Yayah” celebration.
“It’s not an imitation, it’s just a show of respect to a guy who influenced my career,” Townsend told BT Sport.
“I spent many hours on the training pitch and in the video room trying to analyze his free-kicks, his forward steps and the way he applied himself to football.
“It was not an imitation, but a show of respect to one of my idols. I probably did not do justice to the celebration and did not execute it correctly.”
With this draw, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team has only managed to win two of its last six games in all competitions.
“We started well and scored a fantastic goal. In the second half we lacked aim to get the second. From a corner kick our goal came five seconds later, which is too long,” Solskjaer told BT Sport.
“We had enough players behind the ball, but we didn’t figure things out. We didn’t regroup and reorganize well enough.”
Everton were missing several key players through injury – most notably strikers Richarlison and Dominic Cavert-Lewin – and the Merseyside club’s coach, Rafa Benitez, said the draw felt “mentally like a victory.”
“To come here and perform the way we did, we were really close,” Benitez told BT Sport. “You have to be very proud of the players.
“We were doing well, it’s a shame we conceded because we were working very hard. In the second half we reacted well and had chances to win the game.”
“Andros [Townsend] He is doing well, but the team has won, not just one player, and he has been fantastic. “The rest of the team worked hard with a fantastic performance.”
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Fuente: edition.cnn.com
2023-12-24 00:56:58
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