EVERTON fans hailed a second unexpected goal hero in the space of three days as Carlos Alcaraz enjoyed a debut to remember.
The former Southampton man marked his first Toffees start with an assist and the winner as David Moyes and Co pulled off another great escape.
Carlos Alcaraz’s late goal sealed a 2-1 win for Everton at Crystal Palace[/caption]
The Eagles were left empty-handed at the final whistle[/caption]
Alcaraz wouldn’t even have been playing had not Abdoulaye Doucoure not been sent off for goading Liverpool fans on Wednesday night.
Toffees fans arrived in south London on a high following James Tarkowski’s late equaliser in Goodison’s final Merseyside derby.
But they will also know that Palace had enough chances to have given Moyes’ men an utter spanking but somehow threw it away.
Literally in fact as Beto’s opener, cancelled out by Jean-Philippe Mateta, was the result of Tyrick Mitchell’s duff throw all added up to quite a week for Everton, who had Jordan Pickford to thank for denying Mateta early on.
Both Toffees centre-halves were especially grateful as each was guilty of a ricket.
Tarkowski’s careless flick off a boot put Jarrad Branthwaite under pressure and the England hopeful made a right mess of trying to clear.
That left Mateta with all the goal to aim at but Pickford smothered his low drive.England’s Number 1 soon had to scramble again, this time to deny Justin Devenny. Palace tails were well and truly up.
Everton didn’t exactly heed the warning either and required a Pickford-VAR combo to remain level with just 20 minutes on the clock.
Pickford kept out Marc Guehi’s header at the expense of a corner that Jefferson Lerma headed in.
A linesman ruled the delivery into the box had gone out of play first however – and VAR footage couldn’t prove otherwise.
Henderson had been a spectator at the other end but Pickford’s Three Lions understudy did well to bat away Jesper Lindstrom’s volley.
He got an accidental knee in the head from a team-mate in the process but was cleared to carry on after medics bunged some padding up his bleeding bugle.
Normal service was quickly resumed in the Everton box with Pickford racing out to stop Mateta going clear – and Tarkowski ending up on his backside in a scramble seconds later.
Beto opened the scoring in the 42nd minute[/caption]
The goals sparked jubilant celebrations[/caption]
And once again the Everton goal had a charmed life as Palace did everything but score.
Centre-back Chris Richards showed quick feet to dribble his way into the box and Mateta’s prod set up Ismaila Sarr for a shot he pinged off the bar with only Pickford to beat.
Within seconds of the that let-off Mitchell gifted Everton a 42nd-minute lead from a clanger of a throw-in.
Jean-Philippe Mateta equalised for the Eagles[/caption]
His goal came early in the second half[/caption]
The left-back managed to chuck it behind Lerma, who hadn’t been paying attention, and Alcaraz gleefully raced away down the right to set up Beto for a cool dink past Henderson.
The came VAR intervention number two, with Mateta’s smart close-range finish seconds into the restart examined for an age.
Had the Frenchman been off when Guehi flicked on? Eventually the answer came: this couldn’t be proved either and Palace were level.
Alcaraz pounced with just 10 minutes left[/caption]
The goal saw Everton soar to 13th in the table[/caption]
Henderson had to make saves from Lindstrom and Beto to prevent the Toffees nicking another lead.
Mitchell was replaced by winter window addition Ben Chilwell on the hour – but was clapped off by Palace fans willing to overlook his earlier error.
Chelsea spare part Chilwell soon burst down the left and Pickford flapped a none too venomous effort round for a corner.
The sting in the tale arrived with 10 minutes to go when Alcaraz was in the right place to net the winner.
Jake O’Brien nodded down Jack Harrison’s ball to the back post and when sub Ashley Young saw a shot blocked by Will Hughes the Argentinian was on hand to ram home the rebound.
