Louis Saha and Everton down Blackpool
Striker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Louis-Saha-c22459, bagged four goals as Everton beat Blackpool 5-3 in a clash at Goodison Park on Saturday evening. Blackpool had come from 2-1 down to lead 3-2 but Saha’s magic cracked Everton's resilience.
Blackpool made several changes to their squad that lost to West Ham United in the midweek but Everton fielded the same line-up. Everton started the match positively and dominated possession. They took a deserved lead in the 20th minute when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diniyar-Bilyaletdinov-c11318 made a surging run into the Blackpool box before releasing Saha for a simple tap in.
Blackpool was able to level the score just before the break. Everton failed to clear a dreadful corner by Charlie Adam, and Alex Baptiste found the back of the net to make it 1-1. The equalizer sent the crowd in a frenzy.
Everton had a chance to restore their lead shortly after, when referee Kevin Friend disallowed a goal from Everton as Saha swept the ball into the net from close range. David Moyes was fuming at the official for not giving a foul on Seamus Coleman, which could have given Everton an advantage.
Everton regained their lead just after half time, when Leighton Baines’s low cross was buried into the net by Saha. Baines almost added another when his low cross found http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jack-Rodwell-c17462. The midfielder slid the ball past the Blackpool post as the crowd went ecstatic.
The Seasiders fought back again; http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/John-Heitinga-c18862 was caught napping in his own box as Jason Puncheon made it 2-2 for the Tangerines. Just two minutes after the goal, Blackpool went into the lead on a counter attack. DJ Campbell’s shot cannoned off the cross bar but Adam was there to finish it on a rebound.
The Tangerines looked to protect their slender lead as Ian Evatt produced a magnificent bit of defending to clear off the line to deny Rodwell from close range.
Blackpool Boss, Ian Holloway, replaced DJ Campbell and Puncheon with Rob Edwards and Keith Southern in a bid to hold onto the lead. It turned out to be a horrendous decision as Saha netted his hat-trick from a corner when he headed home from close range.
More drama followed when Jermaine Beckford superbly volleyed a shot into the bottom corner after Baines‘s raking diagonal ball from the left. It was 4-3 in favour of Everton as the game promised more excitement towards the end.
Four minutes from time, Saha grabbed his fourth goal of the evening when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-c29347 Rachubka.
A sea saw battle in an eight goal thriller ended with Blackpool tasting their fifth successive defeat. The 32-year-old Saha was able to prove once again that he is one of the best finishers in the league. Everton takes on Bolton next and fans will be waiting to see if Saha is able to recreate his performance against the Trotters.
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