» » » » Everton 3 - 1 Young Boys (7 - 2 Agg): Toffees Cruise into Last 16 of Europa League

Everton FC v BSC Young Boys - UEFA Europa League Round of 32

A Romelu Lukaku double helped Everton ease their way into the last 16 of the Europa League after a 3-1 (7-2 agg) win over Swiss Side Young Boys.


The Toffees' wobbly start belied what was to come as Sanogo Junior opened the scoring from a rebounded corner and Scott Sutter hit the crossbar just minutes later.

Lukaku equalised from the spot after Steven Naismith won a penalty and the Belgian forward added another on the half hour mark. Kevin Mirallas added Everton's third with a low finish.

Leon Osman netted late on, but the goal was disallowed for a push on an opposition defender.

Roberto Martinez named a strong starting XI despite taking a healthy 4-1 lead to Goodison Park and his first-teamers proved their worth after a poor start to the game.

Young Boys started the game well and deservedly took the lead after Sanogo Junior finished off a shot from Raphael Nuzzolo from outside the box on 14 minutes. The Swiss side could easily have doubled their lead just minutes later when Everton failed to deal with another corner and Sutter hit the crossbar.

Everton withstood the period of pressure and equalised against the run of play when Naismith won a penalty which Lukaku converted coolly with 25 minutes gone.

This goal proved to be a turning point and Everton soon started to stamp their authority, countering well as their opponents searched for a goal and a way back into the tie.

The next breakthrough came via young Luke Garbutt, who skipped down the left on the counter and played a brilliant cross back to Lukaku who hammered home on the half hour mark - his second of the night and fifth over the course of the two legs.

Everton continued to pick off Young Boys on the counter and put the game to bed when Darron Gibson picked up the ball in the middle of the park and released Mirallas. The Belgian's run sliced through the Young Boys defence and his finish was coolly taken just before half time.

Martinez surprisingly sent his side out unchanged for the second half, but quickly withdrew Lukaku for a standing ovation from the Goodison Park crowd.

The home side looked to control the second period and see out the match and their opponents barely threatened Tim Howard's goal for the second 45 minutes.

Everton did have chances to pile the misery on their Swiss opponents even further, but Mirallas could not connect with a fine Garbutt cross on 70 minutes, while Arouna Kone's 76th minute shot hit the post. 

Osman headed home late on but his effort was chalked off for a foul.

It was ultimately a very satisfying night for Everton fans as they cruised into the last 16 of the tournament, compounded by Merseyside rivals Liverpool's penalty defeat to Besiktas.

Lineups

Everton
Howard; Garbutt, Alcaraz, Jagielka (c), Coleman; Gibson, Barry, McCarthy; Mirallas, Naismith, Lukaku.
Subs: Joel, Baines, Kone, Besic, Osman, Barkley, Browning.
Young Boys
Wölfli (c); Sutter, Vilotić, Rochat, Lecjaks; Zárate, Bertone, Sanogo Junior, Nuzzolo; Kubo, Hoarau.
Subs: Mvogo, Hadergjonaj, Bürki, Steffen, Sulejmanov, Afum, Gerndt.

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