Everton get dramatic late leveller against Brentford to draw key clash in race for Europe

[p]Locked together on 47 points at kick-off, both sides harboured hopes of European qualification.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brentford/xYe7DwID/"]Bees[/a] had drawn their previous three outings but wasted no time shaking off any rust after over three weeks without a game.[/p][p][b]Inside two minutes, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/schade-kevin/GOPUXXvG/"]Kevin Schade[/a] burst through on goal before being brought down by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pickford-jordan/SKTJdUtH/"]Jordan Pickford[/a], leaving the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/everton/KluSTr9s/"]Everton[/a] goalkeeper helpless as Thiago calmly dispatched the resulting spot-kick.[/b][/p][image alt="Brentford's Igor Thiago celebrates scoring their first goal with Dango Ouattara" id="e612a317-a463-471c-b7b1-634728517fbb" credit-line="Reuters/Matthew Childs" guid="be179ecf-ca08-4905-9882-26aefc0d5390" original-width="2093" original-height="1399" /][p]Brentford remained largely untroubled until the Toffees finally showed signs of life midway through the half. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dewsbury-hall-kiernan/p2OLMO3D/"]Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall[/a] fizzed a superb pass across the box, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/beto/EPUEfWCc/"]Beto[/a] arrived a fraction too late to apply the finishing touch.[/p][p][b]Minutes later, the burly marksman would be more clinical, using his frame to hold off his marker and nod in from close range to draw Everton level with his third goal in two matches.  [/b][/p][p]The two sides remained deadlocked as they headed into the second period, but again the home side started quickly. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/collins-nathan/4AmU39Qm/"]Nathan Collins[/a]’ header rattled the Everton crossbar as Brentford set the tone early and attacked with renewed vigour having faded in the latter stages of the opening half.[/p][p]Much to the visitors’ credit, however, David Moyes’ men once again navigated their way through Brentford’s spell of dominance and almost snatched the lead when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ndiaye-iliman/Im0c6Oy7/"]Iliman Ndiaye[/a]’s deflected effort forced [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kelleher-caoimhin/4S8JqWN0/"]Caoimhin Kelleher[/a] to react well. [/p][p]As Everton continued to grow in confidence, Dewsbury-Hall spurned a golden opportunity when his swivel and shot was smothered by Kelleher at close range.[/p][p][b]That save was pivotal when, against the run of play, the Bees restored their lead. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kayode-michael/CrxJQ1Q8/"]Michael Kayode[/a] unleashed a low strike following a mazy run, but his effort took a decisive deflection off Thiago that left Pickford wrong-footed - the Brazilian’s 21st PL strike of the campaign. [/b][/p][p][b]The Bees initially stood up well to late Everton pressure, but in stoppage time, Dewsbury-Hall silenced the home crowd as he rifled in a loose ball to rescue the visitors a point.[/b][/p][embed guid="1833324e-5e58-4a2c-bf2e-2a8426ce0c64" url="https://x.com/Everton/status/2042996258067894544" social-type="twitter" /][p]Both sides therefore miss the chance to climb into the top six, but remain very much in the fight for European qualification.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodriguez-thiago/MmJb4MzQ/"]Igor Thiago[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brentford/xYe7DwID/"]Brentford[/a])[/b][/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brentford-xYe7DwID/everton-KluSTr9s/summary/stats/?mid=AoUBFW6k"]Catch up on the match stats with Flashscore[/a][/h2][image alt="Momentum" id="4214bb96-453e-4f7c-982c-b2fcbbde66a9" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="9423932a-e144-4f53-b2a1-2ee26ce9ffb3" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /]