A hugely inexperienced Everton side were narrowly beaten 1-0 by BATE Borisov at Goodison Park in their final Europa League group clash.
BATE grab narrow win at Goodison
A hugely inexperienced Everton side were narrowly beaten 1-0 by BATE Borisov at Goodison Park in their final Europa League group clash.
Everton already knew their passage from Group I was secured, so Everton boss David Moyes fielded a reserve side, featuring five full debutants.
The young Toffees side battled throughout, but finally succumbed to a late goal from Aleksandr Yurevich.
It was a night when Tony Hibbert and Jake Bidwell achieved European club records for Everton.
Hibbert set a top mark of 20 appearances while Bidwell at 16 years and 271 days became their youngest player at this level.
Bidwell was one of five players making full debuts with reserve goalkeeper Carlo Nash, Shane Duffy, Kieran Agard and Adam Forshaw also included.
Not surprisingly given their changes Everton were feeling their way into the game but Agard showed good skill in the 14th minute.
However he was bundled over by Sergei Sosnovski, which earned the BATE player a yellow card.
Everton's first shot of note came in the 20th minute when Leon Osman, back after a foot injury, tested goalkeeper Sergei Veremko from distance. BATE were beginning to knock the ball around and Nash did well to block a shot from Aleksandr Volodko in the 29th minute.
Three minutes later Everton hit back and Agard made space for himself inside the area only to send his effort over the bar.
Open affair
It was becoming an open game and Maksim Skavysh tried his luck in the 36th minute but failed to trouble Nash.
Then Sergei Krivets had a clear opening for the visitors four minutes later in front of the posts.
However he failed to get any power on his effort and Nash was able to make a comfortable save.
Duffy then showed good awareness to deflect to safety a shot from Krivets a minute before the break
Everton started the second half with purpose and Ayegbeni Yakubu tried to release Agard in the 50th minute but put too much weight on the pass.
Yakubu had been struggling to get into the game but shrugged off a challenge with disdain in the 60th minute.
However his effort from distance failed to trouble the goalkeeper as it went well wide of the target.
BATE almost went ahead in the 62nd minute after Nash suffered a rush of blood to the head.
He came racing out of his area to try and close down Pavel Nekhaychik but was left stranded.
Luckily for Nash, Duff was on hand to clear Nekhaychik's shot and keep the match on level terms.
Everton were left reeling in the 75th minute when BATE made the breakthrough. There seemed little on when Yurevich picked the ball up 25 yards out but Nash seemed unsighted as it trundled past him and into the net.
Everton hit back and Jose Baxter delivered a neat free-kick four minutes later that went narrowly wide of the post.
Then Agard scuffed a shot wide in spirited response but they were unable to get the equaliser.
| Everton |
Team Statistics |
BATE Borisov |
| 0 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 0 |
Blocked Shots |
8 |
| 2 |
Corners |
12 |
| 20 |
Fouls |
16 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 70.7 |
Passing Success |
79.6 |
| 18 |
Tackles |
16 |
| 66.7 |
Tackles Success |
68.8 |
| 38.7 |
Possession |
61.3 |
| 48.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.1 |
|
