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| Steven Pienaar attended by medical staff after being hit by an elbow of Cardiff's Kim Bo Kyung |
Everton again failed to find the back of the net after 90 minutes of action with Cardiff City. The game is dominated by missed opportunities as both teams found some brilliant moments but always failed to finish it off.
The best moment of the match came at the 45th minute mark as it almost broke the ice for scoring. Everton defender Seamus Coleman fired a cross from the left flank which found Nikita Jelavic in the middle of the penalty box and heads from a point blank range. His header however slightly touch the sidebar as Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall promptly tipped the ball to safety. It is one of the highlights in what turned out to be an agonizing night to Everton which finished scoreless again like its first game with West Bromwich Albion in the opening game.
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| Leighton Baines (left) and Seamus Coleman rues some missed opportunities |
Other Everton players did not fare any better. Leighton Baines and Kevin Mirallas both squandered opportunities late in the game. Baines intercepts a pass for Matthew Conolly in the 75th minute and was a nice buildup. His promising attack fizzled out as his shot went off target after Fraizer Campbell distracted the shot. Baines again tried at the 82nd minute, this time with a wide open shot a few meters from the center of the penalty box which beat David Marshall but missed by few inches. Kevin Mirallas woeful afternoon was highlighted with his failed attempt to issue a cross late in the game. He also later squandered a great opportunity in the 85th minute. Mirallas received a pass from Ross Barkley and already beat his defenders but instead of taking the shot Mirallas shift the ball from his left foot to his right and allowed Matthew Conolly to steal the ball from him. Mirallas was replaced immediately after that play.
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| Fraizer Campbell |
Cardiff City could have earned three points in this game had Craig Bellamy finished it in the 62nd minute. Gary Medel, the former Sevilla man, intercepts a pass. Medel pass it to Kim Bo Kyung who found a streaking Craig Bellamy from the right. Kyung then pass a through ball to Bellamy. Bellamy kick the ball to make find some space but his kick was a little stronger and rolled beyond his reach and past the goal, enabling the Everton defense to recover.
In the ensuing play, Peter Whittingham fires a cross but it missed Gary Medel for a tap in and Cardiff City's best scoring chance is gone.
Everton tried to awaken its offense with the introduction of Gerald Deulofeu who showed some promise but it was a little too late as time runs out for both teams.
