Idiot!!

By The Nark End
February 17 2010

Everton fail to see the game out as they concede a calamitous away goal in last 32 1st leg match at Goodison last evening....

Leaving Goodison Park last night felt like a defeat after a horrendous mistake by Sylvain Distin handed the Portugese a lifeline they shouldnt of really had!!

The whole game seemed at bit strange because of the crazy time that the game kicked off due to uefa rules.

The Blues started the game strongly and should of took the lead when Saha then Man of the Match Osman had 2 efforts well saved by the Sporting Lisbon keeper Rui Patricio,then on 20 mins Saha was clearly brought down on the edge of the box but to the crowds dismay the referee waved play on!!

Sporting Lisbon had a couple of long range efforts before the home sides first goal came and what a lovely move it was,Neville played a great ball to Cahill inside the box and he backheeled beautifully to Pienaar who smashed it home with aplomb.

The goal seemed to relax everyone and the Blues were beginning to boss the game against to be honest a quite poor Sporting Lisbon side although near the end of the first half they did strike the outside of the post.

The Blues doubled there advantage 3 minutes into the 2nd half when Distin was in the right place at the right time as Baines's corner sailed over the keeper and hit him on the legs and went over the line,at this point it was a case how many we would get!!

  The mood then changed when Cahill had to withdraw after an hour after picking up a knock,Yakubu replaced him and we seemed to lose our way a bit in midfield,Sporting made a double substitution and they started to threaten more and more and you could sense in the whole ground we were getting edgy when we should of seen the game out with ease,but you should never forget Everton never do things easy.

So the moment came,which came as no surprise to anyone sat by me,which was all our own doing,sub Rodwell wellied the ball towards Distin who flapped,it bounced off his knees and the on rushing Liedson to control of it ran towards Howard in goal and Distin brought him down,penalty and a red card for Distin.

Veloso then slotted the pen past Howard to give them a crucial away goal and really put a downer on the whole night.

Next thursday will now be one of those horrible nervy night at the Estádio José Alvalade,but personally we are more than capable of getting a result over there,this Sporting side are no great shakes,i just wish we could see games out more professionally.....