Everton beat Brighton & Hove Albion in new stadium opener
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Everton's James Garner celebrates scoring their second goal with Jack Grealish during the 2-0 English Premier League win.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LIVERPOOL – Everton’s new era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium got off to a bright start as they “put on a show” with a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in front of a crowd of just under 53,000 on Aug 24.
Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner struck for the Toffees either side of half-time as Jack Grealish claimed two assists on his first Everton start.
Said Grealish: “It was massive. First game at the new stadium and we wanted to put on a show for the supporters. Very happy to get the win. It’s massive.”
Brighton were left to rue a series of wasted chances, including a missed penalty by Danny Welbeck. The Seagulls remain without a win this season.
Everton are a work in progress with David Moyes desperate to make more additions to his squad in the final week of the transfer window.
But the green shoots of a brighter future were on show on a day that has been years in the making.
Only four clubs have won more English top-flight titles than Everton’s nine.
However, they have not won a major trophy for 30 years and spent their final seasons at Goodison Park, the club’s home since 1892, battling relegation.
Grealish has so far been the marquee new addition to Moyes’ squad and showed glimpses of the talent that saw Manchester City pay Aston Villa £100 million (S$173.4 million) for him in 2021.
Ndiaye scored the final goal at Goodison Park against Southampton in May and made more history with the first goal at Everton’s new home.
Grealish was the creator with a drilled left-foot cross that Ndiaye timed his run perfectly to meet at the back post on 23 minutes.
Ndiaye said of a partnership with Grealish: “It could be great. Jack is an amazing player, we all know that. He assisted me for the first goal and the second goal. It could be very good this season.”
Moyes added: “Jack has got a couple of assists today and Iliman has a goal. We need to score more goals. One thing I don’t want to lose is the spirit on the pitch. We want more flair and quality.”
Brighton should have been well ahead by that point and will be wondering how they left Merseyside empty-handed.
Kaoru Mitoma struck the bar after an outlandish flick over James Tarkowski before volleying towards goal.
Welbeck then skewed over with the goal gaping from Yankuba Minteh’s cross. Jan Paul van Hecke later hit the post while Matt O’Riley also had a presentable chance.
Brighton’s wastefulness was punished once more seven minutes into the second period.
Grealish was credited with another assist, but Garner did the hard work as his blistering strike from outside the box flew past Bart Verbruggen’s outstretched hand.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler told the BBC: “I think overall we were the better team. We created the better chances, but in the end football is about scoring and keeping clean sheets... We have to be more ruthless.”
Elsewhere, on Aug 24, the grudge match between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest ended in a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park with Ismaila Sarr’s opener cancelled out by Callum Hudson-Odoi. AFP
