Alex Iwobi’s goal against his former club, Everton, looked like it would be the decider in Fulham’s favor. However, a last-gasp equalizer from substitute Beto ensured the Toffees stretched their unbeaten run to five games, with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Iwobi was in electric form against his former teammates, finding the back of the net right on the hour mark. It was a moment of redemption for the Nigerian midfielder, who had a quiet first half but redeemed himself with a well-taken strike after a clever assist from Emile Smith Rowe.
Making his second league goal of the season, Iwobi’s precise finish was followed by a modest celebration in front of the traveling Fulham fans. It was a classy nod to his four-year stint with Everton, where he had often been a fan favorite.
The 28-year-old had nearly given Fulham the lead at the end of the first half, but his close-range effort sailed over the bar. Earlier, Fulham had been the more assertive side, with Iwobi leading the charge as they pressed Everton high up the pitch.
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Marco Silva’s Fulham had the upper hand early on, with Adama Traore and Smith Rowe coming close to opening the scoring. Traore forced a save from Jordan Pickford with a powerful drive, and Smith Rowe squandered a close-range chance shortly after.
Despite a shaky start, Everton managed to hold Fulham at bay, even as Silva’s side dictated play and looked like the likelier team to score.
Fulham’s defensive structure held strong for most of the game, with Nigerian international Calvin Bassey playing the full 90 minutes and adding solidity to the back line. Goalkeeper Bernd Leno also made a series of comfortable saves from headers by Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil. However, Fulham’s inability to hold onto leads continued to haunt them, as they have now dropped a staggering 10 points from winning positions this season.
With Everton trailing, Sean Dyche introduced Portuguese striker Beto in the 81st minute in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the game. The substitution proved crucial, as Beto, who replaced Dominic Calvert-Lewin, capitalized on an Ashley Young cutback in the dying minutes to slot home the equalizer in the 94th minute. Goodison Park erupted as Beto celebrated his first league goal of the season, his raw emotion evident as he buried his face in his shirt.
Everton’s late surge lifts them to 15th in the Premier League standings, continuing a promising run of form after a rocky start to the season. The Toffees head to face winless Southampton next weekend, buoyed by their resilience and late-game heroics.
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