Everton-Sunderland Recap: Toffees Dominate Early and Often, Win 7-1

The simplicity of the goal should have set alarm bells ringing in the Sunderland dug out, but it would be too late by the time they did anything to solve the problem.

While the first goal had a slice of luck, the build up to the second was stunning. The ball was played to Arteta deep inside the Sunderland penalty area.

He turned beautifully to wrong foot the defender, and passed the ball inside to Phil Neville.

The Everton skipper played it first time to the back post where Cahill waited. With his back to goal held a Sunderland player at arms length while he swivelled and shot low into the opposite corner.

2-0  Everton.

The goal was skilfully crafted but Cahill should never have been allowed the time to get his shot away.

Sunderland didn’t let the score get the better of them and should have scored them selves in the 23rd minute. But Leadbitter could only watch as his header drifted wide of the goal.

In fact both teams had chances to score, but it wasn’t until 5 minutes from the interval that we saw the third and possible the best goal of the match.

Pienaar made some good progress down the Everton left wing. He passed the ball to the Everton left back Nuno Valente who did well to take it forward and then turn back inside to pass the ball back to Pienaar, who had continued his run inside the area.

The pass was perfect and Pienaar, using the outside of his right foot, swept the ball into the top right corner of the Sunderland net.

3-0  Everton.

If the Sunderland defence had trouble with long balls and attackers with their back to goal, they didn’t have a chance stopping this one.

Everton’s build up was just too good.

At 3-0 before half time any game of football should be over. And while the crowd are allowed the luxury of thinking such thoughts, professional footballers know better, or should do.

Unfortunately Everton’s players had a momentary loss of concentration.

A shot from the Everton right was saved at full stretch by Howard, while his defenders looked on.

It was Kenwyne Jones who reacted first to the loose ball and fired in a shot that had goal written all over it. But Howard had some how managed to get him self up and into a position to push the shot onto the post.

Still the Everton defence looked on helplessly as ball fell to Dwight Yorke who had the whole goal to aim at.

3-1 Everton.

That was the last action of a pulsating first half. While Everton had taken their chances big questions had to be asked about the Sunderland defence. If they continued to defend so badly it would be a long journey home for the many supporters that had made the trip from Sunderland.
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But the goal they had scored had given them some hope. And so would the substitutions at the start of the second half. Off went Yorke and Etuhu, and on came Wallace and Collins as Roy Keane looked to make the most of the Sunderland attacking moves.

As in the first half it was Sunderland who made the best start, no doubt with a few choice words still ringing in their ears from their manager.

A few shots kept both keepers busy but it was Everton who would score to finally kill the game.

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