UEL: Lyon 3-0 Everton
Everton players look dejected
Everton are out of the Europa League after goals from Bertrand Traore, Houssem Aouar and Memphis Depay secured a 3-0 win for Lyon.
It’s a fifth consecutive defeat for Everton in all competitions and a third under interim boss David Unsworth, whose chances of getting the job permanently look to have evaporated after another miserable night for the Toffees.
The final scoreline is perhaps a little harsh on the Merseysiders, who for the majority of the game looked much more solid than in recent weeks. However, Traore’s opening goal sparked a worrying collapse, with matters compounded by Morgan Schneiderlin being sent off for two yellow cards.
Unsworth made six changes to his side in attempt to arrest his side’s slide in form. With Wayne Rooney rested, Gylfi Sigurdsson was asked to fill in as a makeshift striker.
The Iceland midfielder nearly had the first chance of the game when Jonjoe Kenny and Aaron Lennon combined well, but the former Swansea man couldn’t fashion a shot on target. At the other end Lyon’s first chance of the game came from Traore, but his downward header from Depay’s cross was well pushed away by Pickford with Nabil Fekir driving the rebound harmlessly across goal.
Pickford was forced into action again midway through the half when he palmed away Depay’s ambitious looking 30-yard free-kick. Moment’s later Toffees defender Cuco Martina landed awkwardly on his neck after colliding with Maxwel Cornet.
The game was delayed by seven minutes as the Curacao defender received treatment before being taken off on a stretcher wearing a neck brace.
When the game finally resumed Marcelo had the next opportunity when he escaped Mason Holgate’s attentions from a corner, but the Brazilian defender flashed his header wide
Shortly before the break Traore had another chance to open the scoring but his low drive was well palmed away by Pickford.
Everton began the second half on the front foot and could have gone ahead within a minute of the restart. Kenny’s cross was knocked down by Ademola Lookman towards Idrissa Gueye but he scuffed his shot and the ball was saved by Anthony Lopes
Lookman did well to get to the byline down the right and find Sigurdsson, but the makeshift striker’s flick was blocked by Marcelo at the near post.
Substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin then combined well with Lookman to set up Sigurdsson again, but his long-range effort went just wide.
Everton were growing in confidence at this stage so it was a sucker punch to fall behind.
Schneiderlin’s tackle in midfield sent the ball spinning into the path of Traore, who raced past Ashley Williams before sliding the ball beyond a helpless Pickford. That appeared to knock the stuffing out of Everton, who conceded a second goal eight minutes later.
Substitute Mariano raced onto a long pass and saw his effort saved by Pickford, but Depay was alert to pick up the rebound and set up Aouar to sweep the ball into the bottom corner.
Everton threatened to get back into the game when Sigurdsson’s dangerous free-kick was nearly concerted by Williams.
However, any hopes of a comeback were snuffed out when Schneiderlin collected a second yellow card for a foul on Cornet and was dismissed.
Depay compounded Everton’s misery with a diving header in the closing stages, ending the Toffees’ European hopes with two games still to play.