West Bromwich Albion vs Everton. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance24,240.
Tuesday 29 September 2015 11:43, UK
Romelu Lukaku scored two and made one as Everton came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at West Brom.
Saido Berahino's first-half strike and Craig Dawson's header 16 minutes after the interval had put the Baggies in full control at the Hawthorns.
But Lukaku reduced the deficit 21 seconds after the restart following Dawson's goal and then turned provider for substitute Arouna Kone to level the scores in the 76th minute.
The big Belgian capped a superb evening with the decisive goal from close range seven minutes from time to stun his former club and secure all three points for Everton.
West Brom are 15th in the table while the Toffees move to fifth in what represents a substantial confidence boost ahead of Sunday's Merseyside derby against Liverpool.
There were few signs of the fireworks to come during a poor first half in which Berahino's well-taken goal was the only real moment of quality.
Both teams were neat and tidy on the ball but cautious with it and the result was a sterile 45 minutes with almost no goalmouth action.
A poor - and uncharacteristic - miss by Ross Barkley summed up the nature of the contest but the second period of play could not have been more different.
The Baggies took control of the game when Dawson firmly headed home a corner for his first goal of the season and to establish a two-goal lead for the home side.
But Lukaku pulled one back less than a minute later, looping in a header from an inviting cross from a deep position by Gerard Deulofeu.
The tone of the match duly changed, Lukaku then turned provider, collecting the ball on the right wing and dribbling in front of the home defence before passing through to Kone, who took his time before guiding a shot past Boaz Myhill's right hand.
Nine minutes later, the Belgian striker completed Everton's comeback and an excellent night for himself with the winning goal.
Lukaku was perhaps fortunate not to be punished after the ball rebounded off his thigh and onto his forearm as he controlled Deulofeu's cross before thrashing it in from inside the six-yard box.
When he scored against his former club at the Hawthorns last season, the striker looked almost sorry to do so but there was nothing apologetic about his reaction to this goal, a backflip and somersault in front of the ecstatic away supporters.
Five minutes later he was substituted off, to a standing ovation from his own fans and warm applause from the Baggies faithful too. It was no less than he deserved.
Player ratings
West Brom: Myhill (6), Dawson (7), Evans (6), Olsson (6), Brunt (6), Fletcher (6), Yacob (6), Morrison (7), McClean (5), Berahino (6), Rondon (5).
Subs used: Chester (5), Gardner (5), Lambert (5).
Everton: Howard (6), Browning (6), Jagielka (7), Funes Mori (6), Galloway (7), McCarthy (7), Barry (6), Deulofeu (8), Barkley (6), Naismith (6), Lukaku (9).
Subs used: Kone (8), Gibson (7), Lennon (6).
