On the third day of the Premier League, Everton, who could not count on James Rodriguez or Yerry Mina, won as a visitor to Brighton, which had Steven Alzate as a substitute.
The start of the match was all about the local team. Graham Potter wanted to bring some new energy to their game. After a short tussle with the defender, Graham Potter finally tucked the ball home.
Jakub Moder, Neal Maupay, Argentine Alexis Mac Allister and Shane Duffy tried, but none of their shots created more danger in the portico defended by Jordan Pickford.
The ‘toffees’ were not found, they lacked who joined half the field with the attack. So much so that they chose to set aside the collective game and appeal to individuals.
In one of these, Andros Townsend advanced to the right, released a tight mid-range shot and Robert Sanchez evacuated with the right to the corner kick. That would be the warning of what was to come.
With 41 minutes played, a phenomenal play on the left side freed Demarai Gray, of FC, to dash through and score another goal for the visitors. Advantage for Rafa Benitez.
In the second part the story was repeated. Brighton insisted clearly, but Everton was the one to hit.
Pascal Groß neatly controlled the ball after a short corner, and knocked it on to Pickford who had the whole net open before him, but only managed to hit the post. In the second instance he complemented Abdoulaye Doucouré.
And in the 58th minute, seven minutes after the previous action, the final lunge arrived. Joel Veltman was brought down inside the area, an easy decision for the referee there. It was a maximum penalty that did not miss the goal scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
It was a final half hour of processing. The locals trying to score even if it was the discount, but without clarity on the subject elaboration. That’s why it’s weird that Steven Alzate didn’t have just 15 minutes.
In the end it was a comfortable 2-0 victory for Everton, a result that leaves him in first place with seven points and +4 in the goal difference. All without James or Mina on track …