Alex Iwobi Ends 15 Months Goal Jinx with Stunning Goal
Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi scored his first goal of the season as Everton laboured hard to a vital 2-1 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The utility man, who was lively throughout the game, opened the scoring in the 6th minute via a fine side-footed drive from 18-yards.
Iwobi had started the move by finding James Rodriguez who switched play to Lucas Digne whose one-touch layoff found the run of the 24-year-old.
Wolverhampton recovered 8 minutes later after an unmarked Ruben Neves fired beyond Jordan Pickford following fine work from 19-year-old Ait Nouri.
Moments later, Iwobi was a thorn in the Wolves rearguard again, characteristically driving into the final third before exchanging passes with James Rodriguez which sent him into the box where he rifled a low shot that required Rui Patricio to drop to the grass, albeit a comfortable save.
Defender, Michael Keane restored Everton’s lead in the 77th minute via a powerful header from substitute, Andre Gomes’, cross.
Iwobi’s opening goal was his first in the league in 16 months, since when he scored against the same opponents in a 3-2 win in September 2019.
The goal comes as a reward for an extended run in the first team as the player has started 5 of Everton’s last 6 games with the Toffees losing only one of those, when Iwobi failed to feature against West Ham.
In-game, Iwobi chipped in with 3 dribbles the most for an Everton player and the third most in the game solidifying his statutes as the Premier league player with the highest dribble accuracy.
But it was his contribution defensively that has epitomised his importance to the Merseyside club. The Nigerian made 4 tackles, 2 more than any player in blue and the game’s second highest.
He was rated at a whooping 8.17(1st) and 7.80 (3rd) by Whoscored and Sofascore respectively.
The win pushes Everton back into the title race, as they now sit 4th, just 4 points behind leaders Manchester United.
In the coming weekend, Everton will travel to Covid-19 plagued Aston Villa on January 17 as they look to extend their fine run away
