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Blackburn 0-1 Everton: Arteta dramatic penalty
Everton scored a penalty in stoppage time after Blackburn had missed two second-half penalties to seal their first Premier League win of the season 1-0 at Ewood Park, Saturday 27/08/2011.
Blackburn were made to rue wasted chances, including two spot-kicks, as Mikel Arteta converted from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
Everton's man of the match in their loss against QPR last weekend, Ross Barkley, continued with his promising midfield play and went close early on.
The youngster collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area following a headed clearance from Christopher Samba and expertly brought the ball down before flicking in between Morten Gamst Pedersen and Jason Roberts. Barkley shifted the ball out of his feet and then rifled a fierce effort on goal. Paul Robinson was down to his right smartly to gather the ball.
Three minutes later and Blackburn went within an inch or two of taking the lead.
Steven N'Zonzi burst down the left and beat his man before checking his run and pulling the ball back to the onrushing David Dunn on the edge of the penalty area.
The midfielder took the ball under control and faked to shoot as he took the ball around the sliding Phil Jagielka. Dunn's shot towards the far post had Tim Howard beaten, but it cannoned off the upright and across the goal line to safety.
Everton then picked up their pace and started to dominate possession. The Merseyside club began to pass the ball around the park well, forcing the hosts to sit deep, but struggled to create any real chances.
Arteta produced fancy footwork on the left touchline to set Leighton Baines on his way. The defender whipped the ball into the box before it was cleared to Barkley on the right flank. The 17-year-old returned the ball into the Rovers box where it was met by the head of Leon Osman, who should have done better with his header that flew over the bar.
Pedersen and Dunn were then replaced as they failed to shake off niggles they picked up in the game and were replaced by Mauro Formica and Radosav Petrovic, but the two were ineffective during the closing stages as Everton took control.
However, the Argentine Formica, was in the thick of the action just minutes into the second half as he went down under the challenge of Barkley inside the penalty area.
Junior Hoilett stepped up to take the spot-kick but saw it saved as Howard dived to his left and palmed the ball away.
Despite missing the penalty, Blackburn continued to be the better side and had a number of half-chances as Martin Olsson's free kick skimmed the crossbar before Formica's long-range effort stung the hands of Howard.
With just over 20 minutes to play, Baines played a large part in two very good Everton chances. First of all he charged down the flank to cut inside and all-too-easily skip past the challenge of the ageing Michel Salgado before smashing a right-footed effort on goal that required Robinson to be at his best to punch away.
The England defender then produced the same run only to find Marouane Fellaini, who was advancing into the box. The Belgian chose to sidefoot his effort on goal which cleared the crossbar.
Scotland striker David Goodwillie was introduced with 15 minutes to go and almost immediately put his side in front.
Hoilett expertly found Formica deep inside the penalty area. The Argentine somehow managed to flick the ball into the path of the recent Blackburn acquisition who took one touch before shooting at goal under pressure.
The effort beat Howard but crashed off the crossbar before flying over.
Formica then went down again inside the penalty area under a challenge from Jagielka.
The striker took charge of the penalty taking role but could only do as good as Hoilett as Formica's effort rebounded off the left-hand post to safety.
With time running out and both teams looking to get the win, the game opened up and became end-to-end.
And it was on one of Everton's last attacks that they finally made the breakthrough.
Chris Samba rose in the box to challenge Fellaini but was penalised for climbing upon the lanky Belgian.
Mr Reliable Arteta stepped up to send Howard the wrong way and seal a dramatic win for his side.
Joshua Hayward - on Twitter @JoshuaHayward99 / Eurosport
Source: uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
Team Line-up:
Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Givet, Olsson, Emerton, Nzonzi, Dunn, Pedersen, Hoilett, Roberts..Subs: Bunn, Formica, Petrovic, Rochina, Goodwillie, Hanley, Lowe
Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman, Heitinga, Arteta, Barkley, Fellaini, Anichebe..Subs: Mucha, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Cahill, Vellios, Baxter
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
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