FK Krasnodar 1-1 Everton

A late Samuel Eto’o goal rescues a point for Everton in Russia.

FK Krasnodar deservedly took the lead just before half time through da Silva Ferreira but Everton, through Samuel Eto’o on 82 minutes rescued a point in a poor outing for Everton.

Martinez made five changes for the 4,800-mile round trip, but kept his defensive unit – including holding midfielder Gareth Barry – intact.
For much of the first half, this proved a wise decision against a Krasnodar team who produced the kind of positive and incisive display that had seen them score 11 unanswered goals in three Europa League wins this season prior to Thursday.

Martinez’s backline had to deal with a number of attacks during the first 20 minutes, which saw Marat Izmailov twice go close, initially with a flicked effort from close range that landed on the roof of the net and then a shot from the edge of the box that Tim Howard did superbly to palm away.

Having survived, the Toffees grew into the game and went close themselves as Aiden McGeady, who spent three-and-a-half seasons in Russia with Spartak Moscow, saw a low shot saved by Andriy Dykan, who was static soon after as a John Stones header sailed just past the post.

However, with so much hard work done and half-time looming, Everton gifted Krasnodar the lead when Jagielka’s ill-judged touch on Odil Ahmedov’s pass put Ari through on goal to slot in the opener.

Martinez introduced Romelu Lukaku at half-time but it did little to stem the flow of the game as the home side continued to pour forward.

It was another substitute, home midfielder Wanderson, who came close to adding to the scoreline with a jinking run into the box that ended with him hooking a shot against the bar.
With time running out, Eto’o, who now has 45 European goals in 111 appearances, found space in the box to poke home Baines’s delivery and snatch an unlikely point for the away side, who could even have won it but for a neat save from Dykan to deny Lukaku with a header.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez: “Today gave us a lot of experience. It has been a very good lesson for us. I think anything you can get away from home is a positive.
“But Krasnodar played really well and I thought we couldn’t find our attacking rhythm in the first half.

“I think in the end we deserved it. I was delighted with the character that we showed.”
“Maybe a draw is a fair result, but Krasnodar did have a lot of chances they couldn’t take and it could have been a different story.”