Pre-season Friendly against Lille ends in a late draw | OneFootball

Everton 1 - 1 LOSC Lille

Everton's final pre-season fixture sees them take on TFG stable-mates LOSC Lille at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this afternoon.

Jordan Pickford returns for his first game, with two youngsters risked by David Moyes in the first half at least as Armstrong and Dibling start. George is rewarded for his excellent goal against Newcastle with a seat on the bench with Brennan Johnson.

Garner and Iroegbunam are both out injured, while there is no place in the 23-man matchday squad for new signing Christian Norgaard, suggesting perhaps his integration into the squad is taking longer than one might reasonably expect.

First Half

Lille kicked off but Everton were soon passing it around in lively fashion, without threatening until Branthwaite slotted a wonderful pass through to Barry.

Hocney picked out Dibling with a tremendous crossfield ball to Dibling who beat his man but tripped himself up. Everton got a corner that Dibling put in. Everton kept working it around, winning another corner that Hackney put in from the other side.

Pickford, still not up with the new rules, held on to the ball too long and gifted Lille a corner kick, which was cleared. Some neat football from Dibling, Armstrong and Rohl saw the German put in the first shot, low, easily saved.

Lille were getting more of the ball after 10 minutes. But Dewsbury-Hall battled back for the ball, feeding it to Ndiaye who picked out Dibling. He cut inside and unleashed a great shot that forced an excellent save from Ozer.

Olivier Giroud hurt his knee in a tangle with Ndiaye and needed treatment. Everton kept looking to play forward despite some close pressing by Lille, but 39-year-old Giroud could not carry on.

Ndiaye stole the ball and drove forward, playing in Dewsbury-Hall for a low first-time cross that was put behind before it reached Barry. The corner was cleared.

More fine football from Ndiaye, to Armstrong and quickly on to Dibling, who had another shot on goal. Armstrong was doing a grand job pulling the strings in midfield, and getting the ball out to Dibling whenever he could.

Dewsbury-Hall made his second or third mistake, and then fouled his man trying to get the ball back as the game went into something of a lull... until a brilliant bit of play down the wing by Dibling and a decent cross that Dewsbury-Hall could not do much with.

Ndiaye and Barry pushed forward together, Ndiaye backheel not coming off. Ndiaye then skipped along the 18-yard line but scooped his shot high and wide. Dewsbury-Hall ran on to a forward pass from Mykolenko and was taken out by Ngoy... Penalty. Iliman Ndiaye (41') from the spot.

For Lille, a superb ball over the top from Bentaleb found Onal running onto it but Pickford was out to close him down and force a corner. Bentaleb then produced a tremendous left-foot strike that flashed past Pickford and almost grazed the far post.

Dewsbury-Hall tried to find Barry with a cross, but he was behind his marker. Lille had a late flourish but went in a goal down at the break.

Second Half

No changes for Everton as Ngoy fired a shot in on Pickford, but the early pace was sluggish at best.

A great play from Hackney found Barry who did exceptionally well to take the ball and then play it forward to Armstrong in acres of space with only the goalkeeper to beat but he blasts it wide when it seemed impossible to miss!

Branthwaite had to make a strong defensive header for a corner. A good move saw  Dewsbury-Hall get into a good position to shoot when he felt his shirt grabbed but it was shielded from the referee's view.

Armstrong won a difficult battle down the wing before a mass of subs entered the game after the hour mark. Lille had the better of it until Dewsbury-Hall saw a chance to release Johnson with a brilliant forward ball that the new man completely missed.

George then fed Johnson who did better and smacked it goalward but too close to the keeper. Dewsbury-Hall put in a great corner that Beto almost scored from. Evertpnn kept up the pressure from corners, Keane heading the last well wide.

A wild lofted backpass from Alexsandro flew over the Lille keeper but bounced just inches wide of the far post!

A fabulous ball out from Alcaraz saw George quickly release Aznou who played in a supeb low cross that was perfect for Johnson but the defender got in his way.

Lille went to score at the other end but Travers had other ideas, pawing it away with a fantastic save. The corner caused havoc but somehow the defence cleared it. But not before another Lille scare.

George crossed in again but this time too close to the keeper. Lille were threatening but Everton's defenders were standing firm.

Patterson put in a great ball but Rohl couldn't convert it, and Lille went up the other end, Haraldsson volleying it in off Travers right at the end.

Teamsheet

Everton: Pickford (64' Travers), Röhl, Tarkowski (64' O’Brien), Branthwaite (64' Keane), Mykolenko (76' Aznou), Hackney, Armstrong (64' Patterson), Dewsbury-Hall (76' Alcaraz), Dibling (64' George), Ndiaye (64' Johnson), Barry (64' Beto).