LIVERPOOL: Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane scored as Everton claimed a deserved 2-0 Premier League win over Fulham on Saturday in a game in which they had the ball in the net on five occasions.
Everton moved up 11th in the table with 15 points from 11 games, while Fulham remained 15th with 11 points from the same number of matches.
Everton were full value for their victory and had three goals disallowed for offside as the ability to finish chances that has largely eluded them for much of this season returned.
Fulham have lost four of their last five games in the Premier League and sit a point above the relegation zone having never seriously threatened the Everton goal in what will be another worrying display for manager Marco Silva.
Everton had the ball in the net on three occasions in the first half, but only one counted.
Thierno Barry, having his best performance in an Everton shirt, and James Tarkowski both had efforts disallowed for offside, before it was third time lucky when Gueye’s effort stood in the fourth minute of added time before the break.
Tarkowski’s header from Jack Grealish’s cross struck the crossbar and Tim Iroegbunam’s scuffed shot from the rebound fell kindly for Gueye to smash the ball into the net.
Everton’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second period, before Fulham started to work their way into the game.
Rodrigo Muniz came off the bench on 58 minutes and went off again on 75 minutes after feeling unwell, but he forced a good low stop from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Everton’s second goal finally arrived on 81 minutes when Michael Keane looped the ball into the net off his shoulder from Dewsbury-Hall’s corner to make sure of the points for the hosts.
Everton ease to dominant 2-0 home win over Fulham
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Everton ease to dominant 2-0 home win over Fulham
- Everton moved up 11th in the table with 15 points from 11 games
- Everton were full value for their victory and had three goals disallowed for offside
Spin-heavy Pakistan hit form, but India boycott risks early T20 exit
- Pakistan face must-win group matches, leaving no margin for error in T20 World Cup progression
- Recent series wins have restored confidence, but batting volatility remains Pakistan’s biggest risk
LAHORE: Pakistan’s spin-heavy squad are in winning form ahead of the T20 World Cup, but a controversial decision to forfeit their marquee clash against India could still trigger another early exit.
Pakistan came close to withdrawing from the tournament in solidarity with Bangladesh, who pulled out after refusing to play in India, citing security concerns.
The Pakistan government eventually cleared the team’s participation but it barred them from facing India in Colombo in a blockbuster clash on February 15.
With two points for a win, a forfeit of the match will leave Pakistan with no margin for error if they are to progress as one of the top two from a five-team Group A.
It means they must win their opening game against the Netherlands in Colombo on Saturday and beat the United States three days later to stay in contention.
Their final group game will be against Namibia on February 18.
Captain Salman Agha said the move to boycott the India game was out of the team’s hands.
“That is not our decision. We have to follow what our government decides,” he said.
The Pakistan government has not said what their stance might be if the team were to end up facing India again in the semifinals or final. Agha was not thinking about that.
“Our job is to win, and we are capable of doing that,” he said.
Pakistan will be keen to avoid a repeat of the last T20 World Cup in 2024, where a shock super over defeat to co-hosts the United States led to them failing to get out of the group.
The side has since faced criticism for failing to adapt to the modern demands of T20 cricket, with the batting, particularly Babar Azam’s low strike rate, under scrutiny.
The criticism was fueled by Pakistan’s record last year, where 21 of their 34 T20 international wins came against lower-ranked opponents.
CONFIDENCE RESTORED
Against elite teams, the results were sobering: three losses to India in the Asia Cup and a 4-1 series defeat to New Zealand.
However, Agha believes recent performances have restored confidence.
Pakistan beat South Africa 2-1, won a home tri-series, and then completed a 3-0 sweep of an under-strength Australia.
“We’ve had good preparation by beating Australia. We have the luxury of quality spinning all-rounders like Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub.
“We’re ticking most boxes and believe we can win the World Cup,” Agha said.
The spin department has been strengthened by Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq, the latter known for his unusual, slingy action and exaggerated pause at the crease.
The pace attack is led by the experienced Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.
Faheem Ashraf provides seam-bowling all-round support and newcomer Salman Mirza has been impressive.
Batting remains Pakistan’s most volatile component.
When openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan provide strong starts, the side can post competitive totals, but collapses remain a constant threat.
Head coach Mike Hesson has added another layer of risk by leaving out experienced wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan because of poor form, opting instead for makeshift options in Usman Khan, Khawaja Nafay and Farhan.
For Pakistan, the ingredients for a deep run are present, but with points potentially forfeited, there is little room left for error.
