Report and highlights as Everton leave it late to salvage point against Hornets
Tuesday 11 December 2018 08:50, UK
Lucas Digne's stunning 96th-minute free-kick rescued a point for Marco Silva as his reunion with Watford ended 2-2 on Monday Night Football.
Abdoulaye Doucoure looked to have headed the winner after Seamus Coleman's own goal cancelled out Richarlison's opener against his old club.
Gylfi Sigurdsson then missed a penalty for the second time this season but Watford were denied their first win at Goodison Park as Digne opened his account for the Toffees with a sumptuous effort in stoppage-time.
The draw sees Everton miss the chance to climb back into the top six, they remain seventh, three points and five places clear of Watford in 12th.
It took just 15 minutes for Richarlison to show Watford what they were missing as he peeled into space in the penalty area and applied a clinical finish to Andre Gomes' cutback from the right.
Replays showed Theo Walcott to be in an offside position in the build-up to Richarlison's opener, but the goal was allowed to stand.
Troy Deeney missed a glorious chance to draw Watford level four minutes later when he diverted Domingos Quina's cross over an open goal, although the linesman's flag was already up to spare his blushes.
Both sides had chances before the interval as Pereyra glanced a Ken Sema cross wide on 38 minutes before Sigurdsson's effort was blocked by Craig Cathcart.
Watford returned from the break energised and nearly scored on three occasions early in the second period.
The travelling Watford fans thought Pereyra had hauled them level when he fired a free-kick into the side-netting on 55 minutes. A long throw then fell for Doucoure, who saw a shot inadvertently blocked on the ground by Yerry Mina, before Deeney's shot with the outside of his foot was tipped away by Jordan Pickford.
But Watford finally drew level on 63 minutes when Coleman turned the ball into his own net after Pereyra's shot cannoned back off the post.
And the Hornets completed a remarkable turnaround two minutes later, taking the lead for the first time thanks to Doucoure's towering header.
Everton were handed the chance to restore parity on 68 minutes when Christian Kabasele bundled Mina over in the area, but Sigurdsson's penalty was saved by the legs of Ben Foster.
Watford looked set to return to winning ways after five games without a win but Digne has the final say with virtually the last kick, curling a stunning free-kick beyond Foster to salvage a point.
Marco Silva: "In the second half, our performance wasn't normal and wasn't the best. The game started to become difficult for us and we have to understand that was our fault. When they scored two goals in three minutes, we completely lost our focus."
Javi Gracia: "We had a very good performance, we scored two goals and we played much better in the second half. I think today we deserved a better result. As everyone can see, the team is full of confidence and I am proud of all of them."
Everton travel to champions Man City for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off, live on Sky Sports Premier League, while Watford host Cardiff at 3pm.
