EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB - News Archive

Everton 2-1 Southampton

Everton star, Tomasz Radzinski scored twice in the final minutes to maintain Everton's drive for Europe and break Southampton's hearts, clinching a 2-1 win in a thrilling finish at Goodison Park.

It appeared to be heading for "One of those games" untill Radzinski got His first, on 83 minutes. Substitute Wayne Rooney crossed a Beckham like ball onto the head of Radzinski, who done what almost every Everton player failed to do... score past Man of the match, Niemi

The second, in the third minute of injury time, was a stunning angled drive into the roof of the net. A great goal that sent Goodison into raptures.

James Beattie, with his 18th goal of the season, had Southampton ahead at the break, but Everton's tireless second-half performance finally brought its rewards.

As expected, Talk of the nation, Wayne Rooney returned to Goodison Park first team action, for the first time since New Year's Day, as a substitute.

While Wayne had been suspended the 17 year-old has made his full England debut and signed a new contract and he was rapturously received by the fans every time he got off the bench for a warm-up.

Everton were their usual energetic, quick tackling selves, with Li Tie doing particularly well...but it was not getting them very far in the first period.

When Everton finally got their act together, Steve Watson was unfortunate after a clever turn, to see a 10 yarder charged down and then a low cross beaten away.

Scot Gemmill and then Radzinski almost got themselves on the scoresheet before Radzinski's pace took him onto a Brian McBride ball on 22 minutes and he was blocked by Prutton, who was booked by referee David Elleray.

Things looked on the up, surely Everton were going to score at any minute. But then disaster broke, David Weir was playing James Beattie onside when Fabrice Fernandes' pass reached him. He was in yards of space and moved on to chip a shot over Richard Wright, and Alessandro Pistone's attempts to get back and hook it out failed on the line.

Everton were alot brighter after the break and Radzinski had strong appeals for a penalty turned down after Paul Telfer looked to have handled. Elleray became enemy number 1 with Evertonians nationwide, after the sending off of Wayne Rooney against Birmingham.

Then Antti Niemi saved from McBride and produced a cracking tip over from Naysmith. It was all action now. Stubbs had a downward header pushed over the bar by the Finnish 'keeper, and Wright saved well from a Beattie drive.

Everton supporters were dazzled by the fact that Everton were not winning, Everton made a double substitution on 58 minutes, Kevin Campbell and Thomas Gravesen replacing McBride and Li Tie. Three minutes later Southampton made the change of Jo Tessem for Ormerod.

Finally, on 64 minutes, Everton fans got what they wanted when Rooney took over from Gary Naysmith.

David Moyes now playing with three forwards, Rooney, Campbell and Tomasz Radzinksi

Campbell had an immediate impact when one effort clipped over and then set up Radzinski for a rising effort that hit the outside of a post.

The equaliser deservedly arrived on 83 minutes when Rooney's measured cross from the left was powered home by Radzinski with a six yard header!. Rooney seconds later, turned into space to power another effort just wide.

Southampton were defending for their life... with seconds left it looked destined for a draw, Southampton had the ball in the Everton corner ad had no intension of moving it.

Three minutes into injury time and Everton snatched the ball from Southampton, Radzinski took a Gravesen pass to unleash a stunning angled drive high into the roof off the net, to send David Moyes and Everton fans wild!

This game added weight to the claim that Everton have the ability to qualify for Europe.

Match Facts

Everton: Richard Wright, Alessandro Pistone, David Weir, Alan Stubbs, David Unsworth, Steve Watson, Tie Li (Thomas Gravesen 59), Scot Gemmill, Gary Naysmith (Wayne Rooney 64), Brian McBride (Kevin Campbell 59), Tomasz Radzinski

Subs not used: Joseph Yobo, Paul Gerrard

Southampton: Antti Niemi, Paul Telfer, Michael Svensson, Claus Lundekvam, Danny Higginbotham, Fabrice Fernandes (Jason Dodd 70), Anders Svensson (Kevin Davies 88), Matt Oakley, David Prutton, James Beattie, Brett Ormerod (Jo Tessem 61)

Subs not used: Paul Jones, Paul Williams

Booked: David Prutton 21

Referee: David Elleray

Attendance: 36569