Everton vs Sunderland. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance36,617.
Monday 2 November 2015 06:54, UK
Aroune Kone fired a first Everton hat-trick as his side hit six past Sunderland in a frantic 6-2 victory at Goodison Park.
Despite Sunderland hitting the post twice in the opening 20 minutes, Everton took the lead against the run of play in the 19th minute with the excellent Gerard Deulofeu sliding the ball under Costel Pantilimon.
Kone doubled his side's advantage 12 minutes later but Sunderland got back into the game with goals from Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher either side of the half-time interval.
The momentum seemed to have swung in favour of the visitors but Everton had other ideas as Sebastian Coates' own goal sparked a burst three goals in eight minutes for the home side.
Romelu Lukaku added his side's fourth in the 60th minute before Kone scored the fifth just three minutes later and he was celebrating again 14 minutes from time as he completed his treble.
The win moves Everton, who scored six for the first time since their 7-1 win over Sunderland back in November 2007, up to eighth in the Premier League, while Sam Allardyce's side stay in the bottom three.
Allardyce has not enjoyed a good a record against Everton, losing his last six Premier League matches against Roberto Martinez's side but it was the visitors who made the better start.
Sunderland threatened in just the third minute as Patrick van Aanholt's powerful shot beat Tim Howard but crashed back off the post.
Goodison Park rose as one in the fourth minute to mark the passing of Everton legend Howard Kendall and it spurred Martinez's men into action as first Lukaku and then Ross Barkley had shots from distance.
Allardyce's side came close to opening the scoring with Adam Johnson striking the same post Van Aanholt hit after Howard blocked Defoe's effort, but Everton found the breakthrough on 19 minutes.
Kone flicked the ball into the path of Deulofeu and he raced through on goal. The Spaniard composed himself before passing the ball under Pantilimon and into the back of the net.
Everton doubled their advantage in the 31st minute and Kone was involved again, producing an excellent finish into the roof of the net after a one-two with Lukaku.
Everton were cruising towards half-time but out of nothing Sunderland were handed a lifeline in stoppage time when Defoe beat John Stones to Coates' hopeful long ball before lifting the ball over Ramiro Funes Mori and rifling the ball past Howard.
The goal gave Allardyce plenty to work with at the break and Sunderland, who came out with renewed energy, were back on level terms minutes into the second half when Fletcher rose above Funes Mori to head the ball into the back of the net.
It was Sunderland who seemed to be on the front foot now but it was the quality of Everton and Deulofeu in particular that shone through as the Spaniard's testing cross was turned into his own net by former Liverpool defender Coates.
Deulofeu was involved again five minutes later as his perfect through ball found Lukaku, who rounded Pantilimon to restore his side's two-goal cushion.
Kone added a fifth just minutes later after good work from James McCarthy and the striker, who is out of contract at the end of the season, then completed his hat-trick by heading home Lukaku's cross as Sunderland fell apart.
The win is a welcome return to form for Martinez's side in the league but for Sunderland the heavy defeat is a reminder of the challenge facing Allardyce as he bids to steer them away from relegation.
Player ratings
Everton: Howard (7), Coleman (6), Oviedo (6), Stones (6), Funes Mori (5), McCarthy (7), Barry (7), Kone (9), Barkley (7), Deulofeu (8), Lukaku (7).
Subs used: Galloway (6), Osman (5), Mirallas (6).
Sunderland: Pantilimon (5), Yedlin (5), Jones (6), Brown (5), Coates (5), Cattermole (6), M'Vila (6), van Aanholt (7), Johnson (6), Fletcher (6), Defoe (7).
Subs used: Larsson (6), Rodwell (6), Watmore (6).
Man of the Match: Aroune Kone
