Hajduk Split 1-1 Everton: Toffees qualify for Europa League group stage after 3-1 aggregate win
Gylfi Sigurdsson scored stunning 45-yard effort on his full debut.
- Everton qualify for the group stages of the Europa League.
- 45-yard strike from Gylfi Sigurdsson sealed 3-1 aggregate win for the Toffees.
- Jordan Pickford saved a second-half penalty to keep the home side at bay.
- Everton had trailed on the night after stunning first-half strike from Jasip Radosevic.
- Goals from Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye gave the Toffees the advantage after last week's first-leg clash on Merseyside.
Incredible from Sigurdsson! 13 seconds into the second half he has grabbed his first Everton goal with a strike from over 45 yards out! The Iceland international watches the ball drop over his shoulder and takes on an outrageous strike on the half-volley having spotted the goalkeeper off his line, looping it over the goalkeeper. That is a ridiculous strike.
Good save from Pickford! Said goes for an overhead kick as a cross drops into the box. He can't connect but it falls to Erceg who has time to place it towards the far corner with Everton defenders standing off him. The Toffees goalkeeper reacts brilliantly however, getting down quickly to push it away.
Much better from Everton in the last few minutes. Calvert-Lewin does brilliantly down the left, reaching the byline and lifting a cross intowards Rooney. A defender manages to nod it out of his path, but only as far as Sigurdsson who hits a fine volley across the face of goal, only to see it swerve just wide of the far post.
Half a chance for Rooney there. Keane is fouled in the build up as he plays the ball down the right but the referee plays the advantage with Lookman picking it up. He swings a beaut of a cross into the box towards the former Manchester United skipper but he mistimes his jump and it';s an easy save for the goalkeeper.
After announcing his decision to retire from international football, Wayne Rooney is now determined to prolong his career at the top of club football. Since returning to Merseyside, he hasn't done too badly in his bid to do just that, scoring twice in his opening two league matches of the season. He starts up front tonight.
Ronald Koeman has opted for a pretty strong XI this evening. Idrissa Gueye is the only notable absentee; he is given the night off with Morgan Schneiderlin, who will miss Sunday's meeting with Chelsea after picking up a red card in the draw with Manchester City, partnering Mo Besic in midfield.
Ademola Lookman, today named in the England Under-21 squad, starts in attack with Wayne Rooney leading the line for the Toffees.
Everton fans have been warned not to walk around in club colours and to not display club flags in public areas while in Croatia this evening. Split's infamous Torcida Ultras threw missiles and attempted to force their way onto the Goodison Park pitch in the first-leg on Merseyside last week, forcing the game to be briefly stopped as stewards struggled to contain the away support.
Ronald Koeman on Everton making a statement in Europe this season.
"It is the ambition of the club, the ambition of the manager and the ambition of the players to be part of Europe. You like to play European football. I have been watching European football for the past three years, it is really nice on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – but you like to be involved.
"Our way to play is to control the game and to score goals. We have a good advantage but we still have 90-95 minutes to play. We need to be strong on Thursday night to get into the group stage."
Ronald Koeman's on Gylfi Sigurdsson's chances making his debut tonight.
"I need to make the decision. He got game time on Monday and now the decision is whether he starts tomorrow or comes on during the game. We have one more session [on Wednesday evening], then I will make that decision on Thursday morning."
Team news: Everton
Gylfi Sigurdsson came off the bench for his Everton debut against Manchester City on Monday but a full debut could beckon tonight. Ronald Koeman was giving nothing away as he addressed the press this week, suggesting he will make a late decision on whether the Iceland international is ready or not.
Team news: Everton
The Toffees will be without two of their summer signings in Davy Klaassen and Sandro Ramirez for tonight's second leg at the Stadfion Polijud. Klassen, who is struggling with a foot injury, is also expected to miss Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea but Ronald Koeman expects him to be back in contention following the international break. Sandro is also a doubt for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
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