Wayne Rooney penalty rescues Everton point at Brighton

A late Wayne Rooney penalty snatched a 1-1 draw for Everton at Brighton.


The struggling Toffees were close to another defeat when Anthony Knockaert fired Brighton ahead eight minutes from time.

But Seagulls captain Bruno was penalised for fouling Dominic Calvert-Lewin with two minutes remaining and Rooney tucked home the equaliser.

However, the goal is unlikely to lift the pressure on Everton manager Ronald Koeman, whose out-of-sorts side are still without an away win since January.

Koeman's latest bid to solve their goal-scoring problems saw him select Rooney in attack, but the former England captain barely had a shot in anger until the penalty.

Behind him, Gylfi Sigurdsson created little while Calvert-Smith was largely ineffective out on the left wing.

There was little drama until the final 10 minutes of an otherwise forgettable encounter on the south coast.

Sigurdsson did set up one first-half opportunity, combining with Nikola Vlasic before Idrissa Gueye struck a low drive that Mat Ryan had to tip past his post.

Having soaked up Everton's early pressure, Brighton became more adventurous and only a brave goal-line clearance from Michael Keane denied Lewis Dunk from six yards out.

Dunk wanted a penalty but the ball clearly hit Keane's chest as he slid in to clear.

In the second half, Everton right-back Mason Holgate darted into the penalty area and his cross-shot was palmed away by Ryan.

Calvert-Lewin then planted a header straight at the keeper before Vlasic turned Davy Propper on the edge of the area only to slice horribly wide.

Koeman's face was a picture of frustration when Calvert-Lewin met Rooney's cross with a weak shot.

Frustration turned to despair when lively Brighton sub Jose Izquierdo's drive rebounded into the path of Knockaert, who smashed it past Jordan Pickford to give the hosts the lead.

But Bruno's clumsy elbow into the neck of Calvert-Lewin in a crowded penalty area earned Everton a reprieve as Rooney stepped up to roll in the spot-kick.

The visitors almost snatched a winner at the death, but Ryan pulled off a fine double save to deny Kevin Mirallas.

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