James Tarkowski claws back late point for Everton at Bournemouth
James Tarkowski struck with an added-time equaliser as Everton denied Bournemouth a first victory under head coach Marco Rose by snatching a 1-1 Premier League draw.
Alex Scott’s 41st-minute opener looked set to enhance the feelgood factor at the Vitality Stadium after the Cherries were on Friday handed a glamour tie against AC Milan in this season’s Europa League.
But a minute beyond the 90 Toffees defender Tarkowski capitalised on a mix-up between Cherries pair Ryan Christie and Marcus Tavernier to drill home following a corner.
Bournemouth striker Evanilson had wasted a golden opportunity to secure the three points for German boss Rose before the late drama, while in-form striker Thierno Barry squandered a host of chances for David Moyes’ visitors.
Harrison Armstrong started for Everton amid a reported £40million bid from Nottingham Forest, with James Garner replacing Hayden Hackney in the only change from last weekend’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Bournemouth, who were unchanged from their 2-1 loss at Manchester City, almost conceded inside 10 minutes when Jarrad Branthwaite’s glancing header following Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s corner was tipped wide by goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Cherries fans unveiled “Welcome Marco” banners at both ends of the ground ahead of kick-off.
Rayan tested Toffees keeper Jordan Pickford with the hosts’ first opportunity before Petrovic recovered well to deny Barry a fifth goal in three games after spilling Tyrique George’s tame initial effort.
Moyes’ men looked more threatening going forward but enjoyed less possession and fell behind four minutes shy of half-time.
Having been released down the right by Rayan, Evanilson tormented Tarkowsi before picking out Scott, who worked an angle just inside the 18-yard box and then dispatched the ball into the bottom-left corner via a deflection off Vitaliy Mykolenko.
Barry, who hit a hat-trick in Everton’s 4-0 midweek Carabao Cup success at Preston after completing the scoring against Palace, twice went close to levelling.
The French forward fired into the side-netting following a counter attack in the closing moments of the half before being thwarted by another fine save from Petrovic after being slipped in by Armstrong early in the second period.
Everton then appealed in vain for a penalty after Dewsbury-Hall went down under a challenge from James Hill.
Bournemouth should have given themselves breathing space 11 minutes from time.
England international Pickford produced a superb diving save to deny Rayan and, with the goal gaping, Evanilson’s follow-up effort was somehow diverted behind by Everton substitute Hackney.
Evanilson headed wide from the resulting corner, before Scott later saw a curling attempt acrobatically blocked by Mykolenko.
Bournemouth looked to have done enough to give Rose a winning start on home soil.
But Tavernier and substitute Christie got in the way of each other following a corner from the left, allowing Toffees centre-back Tarkowski to lash beyond Petrovic and earn a share of the spoils.
