LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — French striker Tierno Barry scored his fourth goal in five games for Everton at home to Leeds on Monday, helping them break away from a 1-1 draw.
Leeds dominated the game in the first half and took the lead in the 28th minute when Anton Stach’s low cross from the right crossed the 18-yard box and James Justin dived in at the far post with a low shot.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin nearly doubled Leeds’ lead three minutes later, hitting the post from around four meters out. Leeds’ early dominance was underlined by the visitors having more shots (10) in the first half than in any league match since September 2021.
However, Everton manager David Moyes switched to a back three for the second half and the team quickly got back into the game.
Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow denied Barry’s opening equaliser, while Iliman Ndiaye, who returned to the team after winning the African Cup of Nations with Senegal, also pushed Everton closer.
But 14 minutes into the game, Barry finally scored. The big forward got in front of the Leeds defenders and slotted home a low cross from Idrissa Gouiller, another Senegalese international back from Everton.
Moyes said of the former Basel and Villarreal striker: “His work ethic is always really honest and he works hard, but we need goals and he got them tonight.”
“We weren’t very good in the first half, but we were much better in the second half,” Moyes added. “Thankfully we were able to get a goal back. Luckily we were only 1-0 down at half-time, but the same could have been said in the second half. We could have gotten the second goal.”
The draw ended Everton’s European hopes. If they won, they would have moved up to seventh place, but they ended up in 10th place, one of four teams with 33 points.
Leeds now have 26 points, six points above the Premier League relegation zone and two points behind the clubs above them, Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
“Overall, it’s a good result for us,” Leeds manager Daniel Farke said. “This is another sign that we are on a very good path. We are one point closer to the goal we want to achieve. It is encouraging to come here with such a brave performance and get a point, but the job is not done yet. We still need to pick up a few points.”
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