Loading...UC: Everton 1-1 Metalist Kharkiv: Spot drama
Group A
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Andrew Johnson has not scored since March 18, and on a night of high European drama the England striker missed two penalties - one twice taken - to give Everton a mountain to climb when they go to the Ukraine for the second-leg of this UEFA Cup tie in a fortnight as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Metalist Kharkiv.
Metalist had two men sent-off in a crazy ending to this first-round clash, Oleksandr Babych and Seweryn Gancarczyk, but even with nine men against them, Everton could not clinch this game.
They went ahead in the first half through Joleon Lescott, and with mayhem going on at the other end they conceded a late equaliser to Brazilian midfielder Venans Zeze.
Everton suffered heart-ache in the Champions League and UEFA Cup two seasons ago and could now be facing more European anguish in the second leg.
Their 50th match in European competition this may have been, but nobody at Goodison Park needed telling there have been few such occasions over recent years.
Moyes saw his side slump out of the Champions League and UEFA Cup two years ago, and desperately wants to have a genuine European run on the club's CV this time around.
He has had to do without star play-maker - and regular penalty taker - Mikel Arteta with a neck injury, while goalkeeper Stefan Wessels continues to deputise for broken-finger victim Tim Howard.
Lee Carsley returned in place of Phil Jagielka while Johnson was passed fit following a groin problem.
A 30-minute delay at the start due to traffic and turnstile problems took the edge off the occasion somewhat, and it was soon clear that Kharkiv were a fit, strong and hugely committed outfit.
Their tackling bordered on the wild at times, and twice early on they broke quickly to see Sergiy Valyayev and then Oleksandr Rykun send 20-yarders flying just over.
Phil Neville created a close-range effort for Leon Osman to hook goalwards, only for Oleksandr Goryainov to hold, but Everton were tentative and nervous.
Watched by their countryman, Liverpool's Andriy Voronin, in the directors' box, the Ukrainians more than matched the Toffees.
They had Milan Obradovic booked for a 22nd-minute tackle on Johnson, with Everton struggling to find openings.
But on 23 minutes Everton got their breakthrough. James McFadden's hard running won a corner on the right and the Scot took it himself, lifting the ball into the box for Lescott to power away from his marker Valentyn Sliusar and head home from six yards for his third goal of the season.
Everton were more relaxed now, competing all over the pitch and producing movement that worried the visitors.
But Kharkiv gathered themselves after the blow of conceding and it took a brave save from Wessels at Marco Devic's feet four minutes from the break to keep Everton ahead.
Clearly Everton needed more than one goal to take to the Ukraine in a fortnight, but their front pairing of Johnson and Ayegbeni Yakubu was hardly firing on all cylinders.
McFadden produced a cross that Osman headed just over, but two attempts by the £11m striker Yakubu failed to trouble Goryainov.
And on 64 minutes it was the ineffective Yakubu who was taken off to allow teenager Victor Anichebe into the fray.
Kharkiv sent on Olexiy Antonov and the Brazilian Zeze for Onyekachi Nwoha and Rykun.
But after Vitalie Bordian had been booked for kicking the ball away from a free-kick, the Ukrainians had a man sent-off and survived a twice-taken penalty.
The spot-kick was given on 68 minutes when Oleksandr Babych was penalised for pulling down Lescott in the box. Kharkiv were furious and Seweryn Gancarczyk was sent-off for arguing.
Johnson then fired the penalty home, only to be made to take it again because of encroachment. Second time around he saw his second effort saved by Goryainov.
Worse was to follow for Everton. Metalist took off substitute Antonov and replaced him with Hicham Mahdoufi on 76 minutes.
And with the new man's first touch, he flicked the ball through Lescott's legs to allow Zeze to fire home the equaliser.
Everton were desperate now, Phil Jagielka came on for Carsley and with seven minutes left Anichebe was booked after being hauled to the ground in the box by Papa Gueye.
Two minutes from time Johnson amazingly wasted another spot-kick, firing high over after Babych had pulled down Anichebe.
The Metalist defender, booked for the first penalty he conceded, was shown another yellow and then red for this offence.
But even when Johnson did net in injury-time, the goal was disallowed for a foul on Goryainov by Anichebe.
Full Report: Soccernet.com
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