Huddersfield 1-2 Everton: the heroes and villains as Moise Kean receives straight red card

Ten-man Everton were forced to battle to earn a 2-1 victory at Huddersfield Town and move into the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Alex Iwobi opened the scoring for the Blues in the 26th minute before Tom Lees headed home the hosts’ equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

Rafa Benitez’s side’s task against the Championship outfit was made much harder when Moise Kean was given a straight red card in the 59th minute for violent conduct.

But despite having a numerical disadvantage, Everton dug deep and Andros Townsend’s 79th-minute intervention ensured the visitors’ passage into the next stage of the competition.

The heroes

- Andros Townsend: Everton would likely have taken a penalty shootout before the former Tottenham Hotspur winger settled matters late on. Townsend might not have had his best of games but he showed the nous to make the run across the near post and rifle Andre Gomes’ cross into the roof of the net.

- Andre Gomes: the Portuguese was introduced to change the game - and that’s what he did. Gomes combined well with Iwobi to get to the byline down the left before pulling a ball back for Townsend to apply the finish.

- Asmir Begovic: the veteran keeper was forced into a couple of good saves to keep Everton in the clash on his debut. He thwarted Danel Sinani from close range in the first half before pulling off an excellent fingertip stop to deny Duane Holmes’ long-range effort after the interval.

The villains

- Moise Kean: the striker probably feels his sending off was a harsh one and he might have a case. Still, it was a needless reaction towards Sorba Thomas when Everton were on the counter attack. With speculation already over his Goodison future rife, the Italian’s dismissal will only further fan the flames.

- The match officials: referee Matt Donohue was just yards away from Kean and Thomas’ skirmish and it was severe he brandished a red card. Meanwhile, assistant referee Akil Howson flagged Kean offside in the first half after putting the ball in the back of the net when the ex-Juventus marksman appeared to have timed his run to perfection. Howson also chalked off a second-half header for the Terriers’ Matty Pearson with Frasier Campbell deemed in an offside position.

- Michael Keane: the centre-back has had a difficult start to the season. After errors against Southampton and Leeds, Keane was outjumped by Lees for Huddersfield’s equaliser.

Player ratings

Huddersfield (3-5-2): Nicholls 6, Pearson 6, Lees 7 (Turton 69; 5), Sarr 6, Thomas 7, High 6, Vallejo 5, Holmes 6, Toffolo 5, Sinani 7 (O’Brien 69; 5), Campbell 5.

Everton (3-4-3): Begovic 7, Holgate 5, Keane 5, Branthwaite 5 (Gomes 57; 7), Kenny 5, Gbamin 5, Davies 7 (Digne 64; 5), Nkounkou 6 (Gray 75; 6), Townsend 6, Kean 4, Iwobi 7.

What’s next

Everton are back on their travels in the Premier League on Saturday.

They make the trip to the south coast to face Brighton, who have won both of their opening fixtures.

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