Everton 2-2 Watford: Lucas Digne's late free-kick rescues point for hosts

Published on: 10 December 2018

Lucas Digne's first goal in Everton colours rescued a late point for the hosts.

Lucas Digne's injury-time free-kick earned Everton a point and denied Watford what would have been a sweet victory over former manager Marco Silva.

Silva was sacked by Watford last season after an approach by Everton earlier in the campaign and the two clubs are still in dispute over the Portuguese boss.

And Watford were on the brink of a deserved three points until France full-back Digne stepped up to send a perfect free-kick beyond Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster with only seconds left.

Everton received the perfect start when another former Watford man, Richarlison, gave them an early lead - although the goal had a large slice of good fortune as Theo Walcott should have been given offside in the build-up.

Watford were a threat all night and they capped a fine start to the second half with a 63rd-minute leveller when Roberto Pereyra's shot hit the post and rebounded in off Seamus Coleman.

They struck again two minutes later when the outstanding Abdoulaye Doucoure rose above Coleman at the far post to beat Jordan Pickford.

Everton were flat throughout, their display summed up when they were awarded a penalty moments after Doucoure's goal when Christian Kabasele fouled Yerry Mina, only for Foster to save Gylfi Sigurdsson's tame penalty.

Watford were holding on in relative comfort during six minutes of injury time until Digne's crucial last-ditch intervention.

    Follow all the reaction from Everton v Watford

Watford so close to sweet victory

The sight of Watford players slumped on the turf as referee Kevin Friend blew the final whistle summed up the scale of their disappointment.

This game was played out against the backdrop of Silva's eventual departure from Vicarage Road last season, which came after Watford warned off Everton in the strongest terms, after they had made an approach for the man who is now in charge at Goodison Park.

Watford's travelling fans made their displeasure known throughout with Silva the target for some colourful abuse.

And their mood not improved when former striker Richarlison thumped a 15th-minute finish past Foster even though Walcott was clearly offside before Andre Gomes delivered the key pass.

The response of Javi Gracia's side said much about their character as they were a constant threat against a lack-lustre Everton.

It was no surprise when they equalised and they looked to be defending their lead with few alarms, Sigurdsson's penalty and a few scrambles apart, before Digne's fine free-kick.

Watford look well organised under Gracia and Troy Deeney's physical approach, as well as their ability to be first to so many second balls, took them to within seconds of a win few would have begrudged them.

More to follow.

    Line-ups Match Stats Live Text

Line-ups

Everton

    1Pickford

    23Coleman

    4Keane

    13MinaBooked at 27mins

    12Digne

    8André Gomes

    17GueyeSubstituted forTosunat 71'minutes

    11WalcottSubstituted forLookmanat 66'minutes

    10G Sigurdsson

    20BernardSubstituted forCalvert-Lewinat 66'minutes

    30Richarlison

Substitutes

    3Baines

    5Zouma

    14Tosun

    22Stekelenburg

    26Davies

    29Calvert-Lewin

    31Lookman

Watford

    26Foster

    21Femenía

    27KabaseleBooked at 67mins

    15Cathcart

    25Holebas

    16Doucouré

    20QuinaSubstituted forMariappaat 90+1'minutes

    12SemaSubstituted forDeulofeuat 60'minutes

    37Pereyra

    10SuccessSubstituted forChalobahat 74'minutesBooked at 81mins

    9Deeney

Substitutes

    1Gomes

    6Mariappa

    7Deulofeu

    11Masina

    14Chalobah

    24Wilmot

    33Okaka

Referee:

Kevin Friend

Attendance:

38,400

Match Stats

Home TeamEvertonAway TeamWatford

Possession

Home57%

Away43%

Shots

Home12

Away15

Shots on Target

Home5

Away3

Corners

Home6

Away6

Fouls

Home13

Away13

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Everton 2, Watford 2.

Full TimePosted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Everton 2, Watford 2.

Posted at 90'+7'

Attempt missed. Roberto Pereyra (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Gerard Deulofeu following a fast break.

Goal!Posted at 90'+6'

Goal! Everton 2, Watford 2. Lucas Digne (Everton) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top left corner.

Posted at 90'+5'

Hand ball by Christian Kabasele (Watford).

Posted at 90'+2'

Offside, Watford. Nathaniel Chalobah tries a through ball, but Gerard Deulofeu is caught offside.

SubstitutionPosted at 90'+1'

Substitution, Watford. Adrian Mariappa replaces Domingos Quina because of an injury.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Cenk Tosun (Everton).

Posted at 90'+1'

Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'

Corner, Everton. Conceded by Craig Cathcart.

Posted at 90'

Attempt blocked. Richarlison (Everton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas Digne with a cross.

Posted at 90'

Corner, Everton. Conceded by Gerard Deulofeu.

Posted at 89'

André Gomes (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).

Posted at 88'

Attempt saved. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Seamus Coleman with a cross.

Posted at 85'

Corner, Everton. Conceded by José Holebas.

Posted at 85'

Cenk Tosun (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Domingos Quina (Watford).

Posted at 84'

Corner, Watford. Conceded by Yerry Mina.

Posted at 82'

Foul by André Gomes (Everton).

Posted at 82'

Nathaniel Chalobah (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

BookingPosted at 81'

Nathaniel Chalobah (Watford) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 80'

Corner, Watford. Conceded by André Gomes.

Posted at 80'

Attempt missed. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.

Posted at 76'

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 76'

Foul by José Holebas (Watford).

SubstitutionPosted at 74'

Substitution, Watford. Nathaniel Chalobah replaces Isaac Success.

Posted at 72'

Offside, Everton. Cenk Tosun tries a through ball, but Richarlison is caught offside.

Posted at 72'

Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Roberto Pereyra (Watford).

SubstitutionPosted at 71'

Substitution, Everton. Cenk Tosun replaces Idrissa Gueye.

Posted at 71'

Attempt missed. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Seamus Coleman.

Posted at 70'

Yerry Mina (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Isaac Success (Watford).

Posted at 69'

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Christian Kabasele (Watford).

Posted at 68'

Penalty saved! Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.

BookingPosted at 67'

Christian Kabasele (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 66'

Penalty Everton. Yerry Mina draws a foul in the penalty area.

Posted at 66'

Penalty conceded by Christian Kabasele (Watford) after a foul in the penalty area.

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Source: bbc.com

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