X

Wolfsburg vs. Everton: Score, Grades and Reaction from Europa League Game

Alex Dimond@alexdimondX.com LogoUK Lead WriterNovember 27, 2014

Everton's Kevin Mirallas celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Europa League Group H soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Everton FC at the Volkswagen Arena stadium in Wolfsburg, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014. In the background is Wolfsburg's Naldo. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Michael Sohn/Associated Press

Everton booked their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League on Thursday and topped Group H with a resilient 2-0 victory over Wolfsburg.

Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas enabled Roberto Martinez's side to steal an unlikely away victory at the Volkswagen Arena.

Wolfsburg had 38 shots to Everton's 11 over the 90 minutes but were invariably frustrated by a combination of their own wasteful finishing and the Premier League side's resilient defending as the game slipped away from them.

Two moments of lethal counter-attacking complemented that impressive defensive display for the visitors. Lukaku and Mirallas scored in the closing stages of either half after breaking into the spaces left by the desire of Dieter Hecking's side to break forward with any and every opportunity.

betway @betway

Excellent finish Mirallas but what a pass from Lukaku. MOTM performance. #WOLvEFC #EFC https://t.co/YmXph5LV0F

Afterwards, Martinez told reporters (per the Daily Express):

The celebrations were incredible—there were Evertonians everywhere! We've had phenomenal support again.

Big credit must also go to the back five because keeping a clean sheet here is a fantastic achievement. It was a perfect away performance. Our counter-attacks were lethal and I thought we were outstanding.

Both sides started the game aware that a victory would guarantee their progression into the knockout stages of the competition—although they also knew that even a defeat would not be a fatal blow in that pursuit.

Perhaps as a consequence of that favourable dynamic, both sides looked to attack from the off, creating an enjoyable spectacle for the neutral as scoring goals became more of a priority than keeping it tight at the back.

It was Wolfsburg who created the best early chances, with Ivan Perisic squandering a glorious opportunity to head home Kevin De Bruyne's cross inside the opening five minutes. The Croatian thought he had broken the deadlock soon after, but the officials correctly ruled him offside when he latched on to Nicklas Bendtner's close-range flick-on.

Everton were not finding it so easy to break into the final third at the other end, but they did create a couple of openings. The best of those fell to Sylvain Distin, who could scarcely believe it as he headed Luke Garbutt's inswinging corner into the ground and off the crossbar.

Beyond that, the most notable moment for Martinez was a concerning one, as midfielder James McCarthy limped off with a suspected hamstring injury.

Wolfsburg continued to push forward—they would produce 13 shots in the first half alone—but the opening goal continued to elude them, although only a marvellous save from Tim Howard denied Aaron Hunt. As it turned out, the home side's desire to grab a goal would prove their downfall, as Everton struck on the counter-attack shortly before half-time.

Unibet Belgium @unibetbelgium

Lukaku opende zelf de score voor Everton bij Wolfsburg (0-1) https://t.co/ycfvjgQmoP

Breaking quickly from a corner, Mirallas showed great awareness to release Lukaku beyond the one covering defender. The Belgian latched on to the ball and, after shrugging off the recovering Junior Malanda, showed both pace and composure to slot his shot low to Diego Benaglio's right.

It was the Toffees' first clear-cut chance of the game, and Lukaku made no mistake.

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

The second half continued in a similar vein, even if the confirmed result elsewhere in the group—Lille drawing with Kuban Krasnodar—meant the Premier League side were already into the knockout stages regardless of how this game finished.

Nevertheless, Everton's defence continued to hold firm as Wolfsburg, orchestrated by the inventive De Bruyne, continued to push and probe, looking for an opening and a chance to get on terms.

Another Wolfsburg goal, this time Perisic providing for Bendtner inside the box, was ruled out for offside—again correctly—before the hosts were let off by a shocking miss from Aiden McGeady, who skewed his effort over the crossbar after Lukaku's shot had presented him with the rebound to thrash home.

Perisic would go close soon after, hitting the outside of the post from an acute angle. However, the quality of Wolfsburg's shooting quickly got more and more desperate, with the home side often panicking and taking on ambitious long-range attempts rather than breaking down the defence with a little more patience.

Nevertheless, it was another sucker-punch that saw Everton wrap up the points on the night and clinch top spot in the group. Mirallas was on the verge of being substituted when it was suddenly his turn to go one-on-one with the last defender, the Belgian emulating his compatriot Lukaku as he jinked past the last man before finding the bottom corner, this time across Benaglio, with unerring accuracy.

The barrage of Wolfsburg attacks continued in the final 10 minutes, but the resolve seemed to have been eroded, even if substitute Ivica Olic made himself more of a nuisance than Bendtner had managed. Another substitute, Max Arnold, threatened to ruin Howard's clean sheet, but his late shot also ricocheted away off the post.

Squawka Football @Squawka

Everton had made a mammoth 42 clearances tonight; it's been all hands on deck stuff, but a clean sheet beckons. http://t.co/3qrrobPJvf

In the dying minutes, Everton nearly poured additional salt into Wolfsburg's raw wounds, but this time it was Ross Barkley's turn to see his strike ruled out by the linesman's flag—the England international cruelly denied his first goal in European competition.

The Bundesliga side will now have to avoid defeat to Lille in France next month to ensure they join Everton in the next round of the competition. The Toffees, meanwhile, can focus on domestic matters until the last 32 begins in the New Year, with the remaining home game against Krasnodar set to have a celebratory atmosphere.

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

Player Ratings

Wolfsburg Player Ratings
PlayerRating
Diego Benaglio6
Marcel Schafer6
Vierinha6
Naldo7
Robin Knoche6
Junior Malanda7
Luiz Gustavo7
Aaron Hunt7
Kevin De Bruyne8
Ivan Perisic7
Nicklas Bendtner6
Substitution
Daniel Caligiuri6
Max Arnold7
Ivica Olic7
B/R UK
Everton Player Ratings
PlayerRating
Tim Howard8
Tony Hibbert7
Phil Jagielka7
Sylvain Distin7
Luke Garbutt8
James McCarthy6
Muhamed Besic6
Aiden McGeady6
Kevin Mirallas8
Samuel Eto'o7
Romelu Lukaku7
Substitutions
Leon Osman7
Ross Barkley7
Christian Atsu6
B/R UK

What's Next?

Matchday 6 is pencilled in for December 11, with Everton hosting Krasnodar and Wolfsburg travelling to Lille.

Everton's next Premier League game sees them travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, while Wolfsburg return to Bundesliga duties with a big game against rivals Borussia Monchengladbach.