Final score 2-1 , this was the first game in the International Premier League Cup. With the two Cups held over from last season, the League and that new format EFL cup thingy our u23s are getting more games this season .
Everton Under-23s beat Reading 2-1 in the International Premier League Cup on Thursday to continue their excellent start to the season.
After triumphing 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur in their first league fixture on Monday, David Unsworth’s side maintained their promising form thanks to early goals from Calum Dyson and Antony Evans.
Tariqe Fosu halved the deficit for the visitors just before the break but Everton battled hard for the victory, which could have been by a greater margin.
The win means Everton already stand a good chance of progression from the four-team round-robin group stage which also involves Spanish team Athletic Bilbao and German side Hertha Berlin.
Before the match began, both sets of players, coaching staff and supporters paid tribute to Everton scout Sid Benson, who sadly passed away on Wednesday, with a one-minute silence.
Reading started brightly and went close to opening the scoring inside the first five minutes when left-back Zak Jules hit a low shot from the edge of the area which struck the outside of the post.
Everton then went straight up the other end and broke the deadlock thanks to Dyson, who seized upon some poor defending. A back-pass was under-hit and the forward capitalised with a composed finish into the bottom corner, past goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.
Five minutes later and the Toffees were two ahead. The visitors hesitated at the back again and Evans was able to prod the ball over the line after Dyson had picked up the pieces.
Evans went close to his second of the game in the lead up to half-time, firing narrowly wide after latching onto a ball down the right channel.
However, the visitors ensured there would be only one goal separating the teams at the break when winger Fosu fired home a clinical left-foot shot across goal and into the bottom corner with .
Within the first 10 minutes of the second half, Everton had made all three substitutions with Courtney Duffus, David Henen and Liam Walsh all stepping into the action from the bench.
The Blues arguably created more chances after the break than they had in the first half, despite not adding to their goals tally.
Ryan Ledson twice went close, firstly bringing a near-post save out of Bond and then shooting narrowly across goal.
With 20 minutes remaining, there was a classic goalmouth scramble as both Dyson and Harry Charsley attempted to restore the two-goal lead, with the ball striking the inside of the post at one stage.
Reading pressed right until the very end - substitute striker Jake Sheppard glanced a header against the post late on and deep into stoppage time goalkeeper Mateusz Hewelt made a top-drawer double save.
But Unsworth’s side held on to make it two wins in four days.
The Young Blues will now put commitments in the Premier League International Cup on hold until November when they play their next group match against Hertha Berlin.
Everton Under-23s beat Reading 2-1 in the International Premier League Cup on Thursday to continue their excellent start to the season.
After triumphing 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur in their first league fixture on Monday, David Unsworth’s side maintained their promising form thanks to early goals from Calum Dyson and Antony Evans.
Tariqe Fosu halved the deficit for the visitors just before the break but Everton battled hard for the victory, which could have been by a greater margin.
The win means Everton already stand a good chance of progression from the four-team round-robin group stage which also involves Spanish team Athletic Bilbao and German side Hertha Berlin.
Before the match began, both sets of players, coaching staff and supporters paid tribute to Everton scout Sid Benson, who sadly passed away on Wednesday, with a one-minute silence.
Reading started brightly and went close to opening the scoring inside the first five minutes when left-back Zak Jules hit a low shot from the edge of the area which struck the outside of the post.
Everton then went straight up the other end and broke the deadlock thanks to Dyson, who seized upon some poor defending. A back-pass was under-hit and the forward capitalised with a composed finish into the bottom corner, past goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.
Five minutes later and the Toffees were two ahead. The visitors hesitated at the back again and Evans was able to prod the ball over the line after Dyson had picked up the pieces.
Evans went close to his second of the game in the lead up to half-time, firing narrowly wide after latching onto a ball down the right channel.
However, the visitors ensured there would be only one goal separating the teams at the break when winger Fosu fired home a clinical left-foot shot across goal and into the bottom corner with .
Within the first 10 minutes of the second half, Everton had made all three substitutions with Courtney Duffus, David Henen and Liam Walsh all stepping into the action from the bench.
The Blues arguably created more chances after the break than they had in the first half, despite not adding to their goals tally.
Ryan Ledson twice went close, firstly bringing a near-post save out of Bond and then shooting narrowly across goal.
With 20 minutes remaining, there was a classic goalmouth scramble as both Dyson and Harry Charsley attempted to restore the two-goal lead, with the ball striking the inside of the post at one stage.
Reading pressed right until the very end - substitute striker Jake Sheppard glanced a header against the post late on and deep into stoppage time goalkeeper Mateusz Hewelt made a top-drawer double save.
But Unsworth’s side held on to make it two wins in four days.
The Young Blues will now put commitments in the Premier League International Cup on hold until November when they play their next group match against Hertha Berlin.
