News

“It was like a movie” – Super Eagles star recalls five-goal thriller against Crystal Palace that defined last season

The Eagles were on the way to shooting down the relegation battlers at the tail end of the campaign, but a memorable comeback saved the Merseysiders’ blushes

Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi has recalled the crucial 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park that helped Everton avoid relegation from the English Premier League.

After 68 consecutive seasons in the English top flight, Everton were headed embarrassingly to the EFL Championship following a forgettable campaign.

But the Merseysiders rallied remarkably during the final few weeks of the season, losing just one of four games before their penultimate clash against Crystal Palace.

Enjoying a personal resurgence, Iwobi had become vital to Everton’s hopes. The Nigerian midfielder even scored a crucial 99th-minute winner against Newcastle in March.

The Toffees needed a win to guarantee safety against Palace, though, but Mateta and Ayew gave the visitors a two-nil lead at the break at Goodison Park.

But Everton fought back impressively to win 3-2, with Calvert-Lewin heading home the winner in the 85th minute.

Iwobi completed the 90 minutes that day, and it is a game that still excites the former Arsenal man.

“Obviously, we had the disappointment of going into half-time 2-0 down, but we had that belief,” Iwobi told the National.

“Everybody spoke to each other in the changing room, saying, ‘It’s not impossible. It’s something we can do’. When Dom [Calvert-Lewin] scored that header, it was just like ‘Wow.’

“We still had a while to go, but the feeling of the final whistle going, knowing we were staying up and the way we did it, was like a movie.”

Everton eventually finished two spots above the relegation zone despite losing 5-1 at Arsenal in the finale.

Alex Iwobi will look to continue where he left off last term when Everton kick off the 2022-2023 season with a home game against Chelsea this weekend.

This post was last modified on %s = human-readable time difference 8:53 am

Imhons Erons

Share
Published by
Imhons Erons

Recent Posts

Super Eagles striker delivers perfect response to Augustine Eguavoen after Nigeria snub

Super Eagles forward Cyriel Dessers has delivered a powerful response to Nigeria's national team selectors… Read More

7 hours ago

From injury scare to Spurs’ nemesis: Super Osimhen nets brace to spur Galatasaray to big win over Tottenham

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen scored a brace for Galatasaray to help them secure a… Read More

8 hours ago

Tottenham join Leicester City as Victor Osimhen’s favourite Premier League opponent

Victor Osimhen struck twice in a thrilling seven-minute burst to propel Galatasaray to a 3-2… Read More

8 hours ago

Nigeria and England snub Chelsea star with 82 caps and 3 goals in the Premier League

Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo will miss out on international action in November as neither Nigeria… Read More

11 hours ago

Nigeria’s second-highest goal scorer in Super Lig history faces third injury setback this season pre-Rizespor

Nigeria’s second-highest goal scorer in Turkish Super Lig history, Anthony Nwakaeme, has suffered his third… Read More

11 hours ago

“Done very well” – Former Barcelona star applauds Eguavoen as Super Eagles edge closer to AFCON ticket

Former Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amunike has praised the performance of Nigeria's Super Eagles coaching team,… Read More

12 hours ago