So David Moyues is reduced to feilkdinga somewat experimental side, with the much-hyped Tolos Vellios up front and Jermaine Beckford on the bench. No Arteta of course in midfield, where Bilyaletdinov and Cahill may frge an interesting partnership, and rookie Ross Barkley get a start — hopelfully another statement of faith from David Moyes.
DC could have scored in the first minute when a chip caught out Mucha but Distin was behind him to rescue the situation
Baines released Anichebe down the left and some neat control with an exquisite finish saw Big Vic put the Blues ahead in the 4th minute, a nice opening goal. DC won a dangerous free-kick that was deflected over and from the corner, DC put together a good play with Wolff firing wide.
Anichebe jinked in again but fired at the goalie Hamid. Barkley, wearing 20 and playing a nice one-two, got in for a shot.
15 mins and a good move through the middle, Rodwell, Vellios, Barkley to Bily, who ran right through the static DC defence and finished nicely right through the 'keeper.
Najar had a pop from distance that flew wide, then Barkley got forward and slipped his shot just wide of the post. A gorgeous ball from Rodwell was miscontrolled by Bily. Barkley tried a shot from distnace but it was powder-puff stuff.
Cahill got a daft card for a handball block on a strong shot from Borsink, and Mucha pulled off a brilliant save off a really hard-hit direct free-kick. Lahar then produced a nice chip from out wide that beat Mucha but came off the bar as DC looked to get back into the game.
It was a good spell for United, who pressured the Everton defence, and forced them to play some football. But when the Blues got some rare possession, they insisted on playing it backwards, Anichebe reduced to playing right-back and shoving a United featherweight easily into touch..
Vellios got forward and played a great cut-back to set up Coleman but he snatched at the chance and blew it high and wide. Odwengya pulled off a great shot that Mucha was onto sharply at the near post and saved well.
Barkley showed some excellent touches, a nice play through the middle and a great feed ball to Coleman, who stumbled all over it. Rodwell then had a pop from distance but it lacked control. Everton finished the half dominating the game but playing some very negative stuff when in possession.
At Half-time, moyes made a couple of changes: Gueye and Osman on for Barkley and Vellios,
Ball over the top and Pontius finished past Mucha to put the home side back in the game just 2 mins after the break. Gueye looked to play in Rodwell. But Moyes must have been concerned: 5 mins after the goal Conor McAleny (#11) replaced Anichebe.
Cahill tried a clover volley made it look rather stupid. Osman then had a pop that was just as poor. Baines ran down the left and played it back to Bily but his cross was poor. McAleny got in a shoot that was blocked over, and Baines from the corner got a great cross in that Cahill nodded fractionally past the poste, thanks to a bit of a push.
McAleny and Rodwell combined nicely but Rodwell's shot was deflected over, from Gueye's corner, Cahill's downward header was cleared off the line, then Billy's shot clipped off the top of the bar.
Pontius did well to beat Jagileka and fire into the side netting. United won a couple of corners and pressured the Everton goal, as the game opened up with action at both ends, Bily getting in behind and crossing to no-one in particular.
On 70 mins, Neville and Hietinga came in for Jagielka and Baines. Rodwell got in a low shot that was saved but United came very close to equalizing off the corner.
Coleman set up Gueye for a strike but his shot was off target. Beckford also had a poke, to no effect. Then Gueye released Beckford who ran past the United defence and crossed very well, back to Gueye who had made a great run to the far post and the Frenchman finished it off very nicely for the 3rd goal.
Pontius looked to get past Distin, and eventually got in a chipped cross that beat everyone. Then a fabulous first-time attempt on a dropping ball over the shoulder, McAleny's ambitious shot flew wide.
Mucha had done quite well in the Everton goal and came out strongly to punch a late corner. He was alert again for a superb effort from Pontius, who was by far the best player on the fileld.
At this stage, United were peppering the Everton goal with shots but Mucha resisted all attempts to improve the scoreline and the Blues ran out deserved winners.
Michael Kenrick
It's another incredibly hot and humid day in the USA, where David Moyes must find 11 starters among his dwindling squad to start the second and final game of Everton's pre-season US tour. The game is at The Robert F Kennedy Memorial Stadium (capacity: 46,000) in the nation's capital, Washington DC, and kicks off at 7:30 pm EDT (4:30 pm PDT). The game will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel across the US & Canada, also live in the UK on ESPN (00:30 am BST), and on EvertonTV.
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* Everton deducted 8 pts; † Forest deducted 4 pts for PSR breachView full table
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