EFL Cup: Everton nerves eased

Everton 3 - 0 Doncaster Rovers

Everton gave their fans a much-needed lift after a disappointing start to the season, as Iliman Ndiaye marked his full debut with a superb solo goal in a convincing 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Doncaster.

Following a 3-0 loss at home to Brighton in their Premier League opener and a dismal 4-0 defeat at Tottenham, the Toffees couldn’t afford another slip-up against their League Two opponents.

Here’s how the action unfolded at Goodison Park

Grant McCann’s Doncaster side looked like they might pull off an upset, but Everton took the lead early in the second half with Tim Iroegbunam’s first-time strike, which Dwight McNeil claimed to have got a touch on.

Everton’s long-awaited first goal of the season was quickly followed by Ndiaye’s moment of magic, as he turned, ran, and finished brilliantly, before Beto sealed a morale-boosting win ahead of their upcoming fixture against Bournemouth.

Doncaster, making their first trip to Goodison Park since 1985, started brightly, defending well and growing in confidence as the first half wore on. Their fans were in good voice, while Everton’s supporters remained nervous as their team struggled for fluency and belief.

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Everton gradually found their rhythm as the break approached, with James Garner going close twice. Doncaster held on until half-time, but just eight minutes into the second half, they were behind. Jesper Lindstrom, also on his full debut, set up Iroegbunam to strike from the edge of the area, with the ball deflecting off McNeil on its way in.

The relief around Goodison was palpable, and Everton pushed for a second, with Garner narrowly missing the target before Ndiaye and Beto came close.

Doncaster had their chances to equalise, most notably when substitute Joe Sbarra forced a save from Jordan Pickford in a swift counter-attack. However, they were left to rue that missed opportunity when, in the 74th minute, summer signing Ndiaye collected the ball in midfield, spun away from his marker, surged past Joseph Olowu, and fired home smartly at the near post.

Beto wrapped up the victory in the 83rd minute, tapping in from close range after Vitalii Mykolenko’s cutback, adding the final touch to a confidence-boosting performance from the Toffees.