Everton’s new chapter at the Hill Dickinson Stadium began in impressive fashion as they secured a 2-0 win over Brighton on Sunday, in front of a crowd just shy of 52,000.
Goals from Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner on either side of halftime sealed the victory, while Jack Grealish marked his first start for the Toffees with two assists, offering a glimpse of the talent that once commanded a £100 million ($135 million) fee from Manchester City.
Brighton, still without a win this season, were left ruing a series of missed opportunities, including a second-half penalty squandered by Danny Welbeck.
Despite being a work in progress, David Moyes’ Everton showed signs of promise on a landmark day that was years in the making. After decades at Goodison Park, their home since 1892, the Toffees opened their new stadium with a performance that hinted at better days ahead.
Everton, nine-time English champions, have not lifted a major trophy in 30 years and spent recent seasons flirting with relegation. But with new blood like Grealish and Ndiaye, Moyes is hoping to build a team worthy of the club’s rich history.
Ndiaye, who scored the final goal at Goodison Park in May, wrote his name into the history books again by netting the first goal at the club’s new home. Grealish delivered a pinpoint left-footed cross that Ndiaye met at the far post in the 23rd minute.
Brighton, however, had already squandered several clear chances by that point. Kaoru Mitoma clipped the crossbar after a dazzling flick over James Tarkowski, before Danny Welbeck blazed over from close range following a cross from Yankuba Minteh.
The Seagulls continued to threaten, with Jan Paul van Hecke hitting the post and Matt O’Riley failing to capitalise on a poor backpass, only for Jordan Pickford to rush out and make a crucial block.
Everton doubled their lead seven minutes after the break. Grealish picked up his second assist, but it was Garner who stole the spotlight with a thunderous strike from outside the box that flew past Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Brighton were handed a lifeline 15 minutes from time when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was penalised for handball. But Jordan Pickford preserved the clean sheet with a superb save from Welbeck’s penalty, diving low to his left.
Tension off the pitch as Palace and Forest draw 1–1
At Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest played out a 1-1 draw in a match overshadowed by off-field tensions between the two clubs.
Palace fans voiced their anger at Forest following their elevation to the Europa League at the Eagles’ expense, after UEFA ruled against Palace for breaching multi-club ownership rules, demoting them to the Conference League.
A charged atmosphere intensified when Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring for Palace, turning in a cross from Daniel Muñoz.
Forest, meanwhile, faced their own internal turmoil, with manager Nuno Espírito Santo publicly acknowledging a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis. Speculation continues to mount over the Portuguese coach’s future, as bookmakers have slashed odds on him being the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season.
Nonetheless, Forest managed to earn a point when Callum Hudson-Odoi equalised, calmly finishing from Dan Ndoye’s pass.
AFP
