What an evening! It had been so long since an Everton player had got a hat-trick, but Romelu Lukaku changed that last night with an incredible display – and not just from himself either. Everton completed dominated the game, even with 10 men. Despite conceding first, the visitors controlled in Switzerland and scored 3 goals in 15 minutes. They scored in the second-half is well and surely, even for Everton’s standard, this tie is wrapped up. What made Everton so dominant? What happened to Young Boys, a team who has been great at home in Europe over the last few years? How boss was Lukaku?
Source: evertonfc.com
Line-Ups and Formations
Uli Forte named an unchanged side from the team that defeated Grasshopper Zurich at the weekend, beating them 4-2. They lined-up with Yvon Mvogo in goal, with Steve Von Bergen and Milan Vilotic in the center-back positions. Florent Hadergjonaj and Jan Lecjaks played in the full-back positions with Milan Gajic, Sekou Sanogo Junior and Yuya Kubo as the midfield hold. Raphael Nuzzolo and Renato Steffen were the two wingers and Guillaume Hoarau up front.
The Toffees lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, making two changes from the defeat last week. Kevin Mirallas and James McCarthy replaced Aaron Lennon and Muhamed Besic. Everton started Tim Howard in goal with Seamus Coleman and Bryan Oviedo in the full-back spots. Phil Jagielka and John Stones started in the center, with Gareth Barry and James McCarthy just in front. Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith were the two wingers, with Ross Barkley playing just behind Romelu Lukaku.
Quick-Start on the left
Here is a map of Everton’s touches in the first 10 minutes, as you can see, the left is very covered. The first 10 minutes was complete Everton dominance, The Toffees mainly spamming the left side (and that continued throughout the rest of the game). Bryan Oviedo pressured so high that 68.75% of his touches was in the opposition half! The Costa Rican even attempted two crosses and Romelu Lukaku made his presence known having a shot at goal already and forcing a good save from the keeper.
Gareth Barry was also pressing higher than he usually does, making just one failed pass (completing 93% in the first 10 minutes). It reminded me off David Moyes’ tactics, targeting the ‘weaker’ full-back, Florent Hadergjonaj was completely destroyed on that left side but Everton’s pressure on the left. It’s a shame that it was Young Boys that scored first.
The first effort from the hosts turned out to be a goal, Guillaume Hoarau scoring from outside the area and into the back of the net. It was Raphael Nuzzolo who broke forward on our right side after Seamus Coleman lost possession. There was only one man that they would target, so the defence could’ve been more aware of his presence and he was given a lot of time to pick his spot. Phil Jagielka also could’ve put him on his weaker foot or go in and make a tackle but he gives him too much time. Tim Howard could have also moved a lot quicker to that side but his view wasn’t great in fairness. Things would improve however.
Young Boys’ Horrendous Defending
You would’ve expected a lot better from a team who had conceded just one goal at home in the Europa League, but the hosts defence was shocking – and it was about time we punished a team. Everton continued to spam that left side and within 15 minutes they probably won the tie.
The first goal came from a brilliant cross from Gareth Barry (yes – Gareth Barry). Firstly, Gareth was given way too much room to hit a cross in after some nice footwork from Super Kev. The Young Boys midfielder focuses too much on Kevin Mirallas, even though there is a man already on him and that created so much room for him to pass to Gareth Barry or Bryan Oviedo on the left side that had so much room. The delivery is a great one from Barry, finding Big Rom in the area but the defending from Steve Von Bergen is laughable, backing away from him and not even challenging for the header.
Seamus Coleman was the next on the scoresheet after awesome build-up on that left-side. There was some great passing on that left side. Barkley making a incredible ball into Steven Naismith, making a run on the left, which somehow three players miss. Naismith is pressured from the captain but still makes a great pass into Seamus Coleman who is in 5 yards off space at the back post. All Coleman needed to do was tap-it in, which is what he does.
The third goal is just as bad from a Young Boys point-of-view. Romelu Lukaku shows great strength in midfield, running forward, passing to Naisy and then forward to Ross Barkley on the right side. The ball is defended but the clearance is shocking from the full-back, allowing Everton another chance, clearing it straight to Gareth Barry. The midfielder finds Bryan Oviedo, who waits for the run from him, not one player challenged the left-back. The ball deflects off one of the defenders and bounces straight into the path off Romelu Lukaku who taps in. Although Lukaku is offside in the build-up, the defence gives him so much room to shoot at goal.
Everton’s Dangerous Attack
The Toffees’ attack was incredible to watch, making continuous runs into the box, Bryan Oviedo, Gareth Barry, Seamus Coleman all pushing highly on the weak Young Boys’ defence. The hosts went into meltdown. We had seen Everton’s amazing counter-attacking in a few games in Europe, VfL Wolfsburg especially but the attacking was outrageous. The Toffees almost made it four before the interval.
Ross Barkley made a brilliant pass to Kevin Mirallas who timed his run to perfection and again wasn’t picked up by the Young Boys defenders. Unfortunately, Kevin was out muscled by the defender before getting away and in on goal.
Everton’s crossing game worked brilliantly, making 11 crosses into the area, two being assists. It just shows that if you create chances for Romelu Lukaku, for him to actually get a shot from, he will score them 90% of the time.
Second-Half – Young Boys failing to break through
The hosts once again targeted the giant striker, Guillaume Hoarau. The hosts made 7 crosses in the first 10 minutes of the second-half, not one finding a Young Boys player. It was clear what Young Boys wanted to do and it was their only chance of a breakthrough in open play. The hosts would make attempt another 4 crosses from the 55th to the 65th minute, one being successful but leading into nothing.
The only chance that they would manage to make a breakthrough would be from a dead ball situation, which they got after John Stones made a poor defensive error, allowing them to break before fouling him, that being the only disappointment of the evening for Evertonians. He wouldn’t have been sent off if there was another defender there, but he was last man so he was always going to go off. Hoarau wasted a big opportunity to give them a slight chance going into the second leg but he blasted it over the bar.
Even when there were ten men, it was still a solid defence, Antolin Alcaraz coming on to hold that defence which he done well. Tim Howard wasn’t threatened again after that.
Toffees Continue To Counter
Romelu Lukaku put the game to bed when he broke forward and comfortably sealed his hat-trick. The counter-attacking from Everton was brilliant in the fourth goal. John Stones made a big clearance up field, which would have been easy to clear but he passed it straight to Ross Barkley. Either he was meant to do it or he was expecting Barkley to put the ball out as James McCarthy was down holding his shoulder at the center of the pitch. Young Boys switched off however, Ross made an awesome pass into Romelu Lukaku who sprinted forward and finished off, much to the delight of the Everton faithful.
There would be more chances later on from Romelu Lukaku; great passes from Gareth Barry, Seamus Coleman and Luke Garbutt (replacing Bryan Oviedo) saw him have some good chances, but he couldn’t had to his fantastic tally. At the end of the game, Romelu Lukaku had 7 shots on target – which is the best he has had in one game in his Everton career.
Man of the Match: Romelu Lukaku
Joel Parker
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