Everton held to 2-2 draw by Ipswich in Goodison’s penultimate game

Everton news is not very positive for their supporters, as the Merseyside outfit failed to win their penultimate game at Goodison Park on Saturday. 

The Toffees struck two first-half goals to put themselves in a commanding position against Ipswich Town, only to let slip their big advantage to play out a 2-2 draw. 

The hosts made a bright start as Beto forced a save from Alex Palmer within the opening seven minutes of the game. 

The 27-year-old then attempted an audacious bicycle kick that went over the crossbar. 

But Beto finally broke the deadlock for his team in the 26th minute when he nodded home a beautifully-weighted cross from Carlos Alcaraz. 

Dwight McNeil extended the lead with a stunning long-range effort. But a moment of individual brilliance from Julio Enciso pulled one back for the visitors just four minutes before the interval. 

Everton went close to restoring their two-goal advantage early in the second-half when Iliman Ndiaye missed McNeil’s cross by a matter of inches. 

With Beto struggling to make an impact, manager David Moyes decided to replace him with Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the final stages of the contest. 

But the 28-year-old’s introduction failed to change things for them as he did not get a sight of goal. 

Then in the 79th minute, George Hirst stunned the Goodison crowd by heading in at the far post. 

The Blues pushed for a winner, but Ipswich held out to take a point back to Suffolk. 

It was a positive result for the Tractor Boys but with relegation to the Championship already confirmed, the stalemate is unlikely to lift the spirits of their fans much. 

Everton, on the other hand, will have another opportunity at a winning finale when they welcome Southampton at Goodison in their closing match on May 18.