Everton fight back to hold Sunderland at the Stadium of Light
A late strike from Mikel Arteta earned Everton a 2–2 draw away to Sunderland in the Premier League on Monday 22 November.
An early header from Tim Cahill had put the visitors in front, but a goal in either half from Danny Welbeck lit Sunderland's hopes of claiming their fourth home win of the season before the Spaniard's
late intervention.
"We got into good positions but didn't make them pay," Everton boss David Moyes told
BBC Sport after the game. "It was disappointing we couldn't finish off our good play, but it's a hard place to come, Sunderland."
Everton went ahead after Leighton Baines was put through by Steven Pienaar on the left flank with six minutes played.
The left-back delivered an early cross towards the penalty area, where Cahill rose high to head the open header into the ground and under Craig Gordon in the Sunderland goal.
Sunderland's Jordan Henderson, who was handed his England debut by Fabio Capello last week, then tested Tim Howard with a low free kick from 25 yards.
With 20 minutes gone, Sunderland pulled a goal back as Bolo Zenden dodged a challenge from Pienaar on the right flank before dribbling down the right of the Everton box and crossing low for Welbeck to
tuck home his finish at the near post.
Cahill denied twice from the goal line
Cahill then came close with another headed effort supplied by Baines, this time from a corner, but Henderson and Gordan joined forces to clear the goal-bound effort off the line.
Ten minutes after the break, Everton captain Phil Neville chipped a delicate ball over the Sunderland defence for Cahill to finish alone with Gordon, but the Aussie's deft lob became his second effort
to be cleared off the line, this time by Michael Turner.
With 20 minutes left to go, Sunderland regrouped after a corner as the ball was played out to Kieran Richardson, who appeared to be in an offside position on the left flank.
The former Manchester United winger steadied his aim and curled an inch-perfect cross towards the near post where Welbeck, another former United player, met it with a glancing header into the far corner.
Arteta scores as both sides miss chances
But as on many previous occasions, it was the influential Arteta who made the difference as the playmaker received the ball 25 yards out and turned onto his left foot to hit a low, left-footed strike that
deflected off Phillip Bardsley before creeping into Gordon's left corner.
Sunderland's Darren Bent could have taken the win in the dying minutes, but his strike only found the side-netting before Welbeck dragged shot wide from inside the box.
Everton could also have claimed the victory as Jermaine Beckford found himself alone with Gordon in injury time, but the Englishman's half-volley went over the bar.
The draw leaves Sunderland in seventh place with 20 points from 14 games, while Everton are 14th with 16 points so far.
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