We’re approaching full time here at Goodison, and as good as Everton were early on, they have perhaps failed to take full advantage, and will now more than likely have to snatch an away goal in Croatia. Unless, that is, they can find another opening here…
87'
A great touch and turn from Calvert-Lewin and suddenly Everton are in. The pass to Lookman isn’t great, but the winger still. manages to get a shot off. Hajduk, however, are back to clear their lines.
85'
T. Bašić enters the game and replaces S. Gentsoglou.
A final Hajduk substitution, as Savvas Gentsoglou comes off for Toma Basic.
84'
Another terrific top from Pickford, who is having to show his worth to keep out a resurgent Hajduk now. Koeman is up on his feet, demeaning his side push up. An away goal for the visitors really would throw a spanner in the works for the Toffees.
82'
CLOSE! A great opportunity for the visitors goes begging, as Erceg just fails to apply a finish. Moments later, Pickford is forced into another top save. Everton are too static at the moment, and somewhat inviting the danger.
80'
GREAT SAVE! It would not have counted anyway, due to a marginal offside, but that was a fantastic stop from Stipica to keep out Lookman’s effort from point-blank range.
78'
Everton have certainly conceded an element of control since Schneiderlin was taken off, and without Gareth Barry - sold to West Brom on Tuesday - have lacked a player to take the impetus in midfield since the restart. Besic now has the chance to do just that.
76'
M. Bešić enters the game and replaces Kevin Mirallas.
A third and final change for Everton, as Muhamed Besic comes on. Kevin Mirallas makes way, and it seems Rooney will now move up onto the left flank.
73'
Pickford is fuming with Everton’s defence, there, as they allow Barry way too much time and space on the edge of the area, even though the midfielder’s resulting strike sailed wide. Everton have to step it up a gear for the final 20 minutes or so now.
Minute
Description
72'
Another poor call from the official, who elects to let a lunge from Barry on Lookman go without punishment. The Everton winger was fortunate to escape without an injury, there.
70'
Reckless from Calvert-Lewin, as he slides in very late on Memolla. Fortunately for Everton, the striker gets away with it without picking up a booking.
68'
Williams finds space from a Mirallas corner, but the Wales defender can’t generate enough power on the header to trouble Hajduk’s goalkeeper.
66'
A. Erceg enters the game and replaces Z. Kožulj.
S. Said enters the game and replaces F. Ohandza.
A first change for the visitors, as Ante Erceg replaces Zvonimir Kozulj.
Hajduk's second substitution sees Frank Ohandza Zoa make way for Ahmed Said.
65'
Sloppy from Lookman, who has started to fade in this game after a terrific first half. He delays his pass to Baines a moment too long, and a promising Everton attack breaks down.
62'
D. Calvert-Lewin enters the game and replaces D. Klaassen.
SAVE! That’s a huge stop from Pickford. He has had little to do, but when he is called into action the Everton goalkeeper gets down well to parry away a low strike to his left. There looked to have been a foul on Gueye in the build up, but the officials failed to spot it.
A second change of the game now for Everton, as Koeman looks to push his side forward and snatch another goal. Davy Klaassen comes off, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin his replacement. Rooney will drop back to the number 10 role, and the youngster will lead the Toffees’ line.
60'
Shouts for a penalty as Rooney goes down under pressure from Nizic. It should have been awarded, but the linesman incorrectly flagged the striker offside.
58'
For the third time in five minutes, Rooney makes a curling run in behind Hajduk’s defence, only to be held up by a late offside flag. Everton’s play isn’t quite as slick as it was before the interval, though they remain relatively untroubled.
55'
A bit of a lull in play, though Hajduk have a potentially dangerous free-kick midway through Everton’s territory. Pickford initially comes out to claim what is a fine delivery, but in the end Williams has to head it clear.
53'
STAT - Rooney has scored 39 goals in European competition, although all of these were for Manchester United (a club record total).
51'
Everton still look sharp, though it has to be said Hajduk are enjoying more possession and territory in the middle of the park since Schneiderlin made way, with the energetic Davies just unable to get on the ball at the moment.
49'
JUST WIDE! Great combination play once more between Lookman and Martina, with the latter drifting in a cross to the six-yard box. Rooney meets it, but his glancing header flashes across the face of goal.
48'
Good play from the visitors, though it leads to nothing as Radosevic skies his strike into the stands.
46'
T. Davies enters the game and replaces M. Schneiderlin.
Welcome back! We are up and running in the second half at Goodison. There has been one change for Everton, with Morgan Schneiderlin - who was booked early on - replaced by Tom Davies. The Frenchman was on top form in the first half, but Koeman has elected not to risk him picking up a suspension.
45' +5
CLOSE! What a miss from Rooney! He looked all set to make it 3-0, after connecting with Klaassen’s brilliant first-time pass, but the former Manchester United man can’t beat Hajduk’s goalkeeper from close range.
45' +2
We’re into an extended period of added time now, following that lengthy stoppage for crowd trouble earlier. Hajduk - through Vlasic and Barry - pepper Pickford’s goal with a few long-range efforts, but the former Sunderland goalkeeper copes easily.
45'
I. Gueye has scored a goal for Everton! Assist by W. Rooney.
Rooney’s quality hold-up play and vision there was on show for all to see. He held off his markers brilliantly, before turning an exquisite path into Gueye’s path.
GOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!! Another fantastic move from Everton, and that man Rooney plays a vital part. The 31-year-old connected with Klaassen’s knock down, twisting and turning before threading a sublime pass into Gueye who, at the end of a lung-bursting run, slides a precise finish into the bottom-right corner.
43'
H. Memolla gets yellow.
Hajduk have lost on six of their seven visits to England in European competition (D1), failing to score on five of the last six trips, though they are still in this game despite Everton's dominance.
Great play again from Lookman who - in spite of initially losing possession - manages to force himself through Hajduk’s lines and win a free-kick right on the edge of the visitors’ penalty area.
41'
OFFSIDE! So close to a second for the hosts, as Rooney - who did put the ball in the back of the net - is adjudged to have strayed behind Hajduk’s last man before Klaassen prodded through a subtle throughball.
40'
From Everton’s point of view, they now have to try and assert their authority on proceedings again after that break. Hajduk manage a sustained spell of possession, but an eventual shot from distance - courtesy of Vlasic - does not trouble Pickford.
38'
After that disappointing and frustrating interlude, the game is back up and running.
37'
Thankfully, the police and stewards seem to have the offending fans under control. But Everton and Hajduk now have to restart proceedings, with the rhythm of the game well and truly disrupted.
34'
Dreadful scenes at Goodison, as the referee has to bring the game to a temporary pause due to some ridiculous antics from a section of the visiting Hajduk supporters, who have kicked down the advertising boards and made their way onto the pitch.
33'
The Toffees have claimed victory in six of their last seven European games at Goodison Park, with their only loss coming in the 2014/15 group stages against FK Krasnodar, after already qualifying from the group.
30'
M. Keane has scored a goal for Everton! Assist by L. Baines.
GOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!! EVERTON LEAD! Sublime play from the Toffees, as Baines latches onto a loose ball on the edge of Hajduk’s box and - with the help of a delightful flick-on from Klaassen - manages to get to the byline. He looks up, takes his time and prods a precise cross to the back post, where Keane is on hand to head in his first goal for Everton.
Without the playmaking abilities of Steven Pienaar in front of him for the past few seasons, Baines’ influence on this Everton side has at times been restricted. He was back to the form of old there, though, as he drove into the area and lobbed a brilliant cross onto Keane’s head.
29'
Williams spreads a delightful pass out to the right wing, where Lookman tees up Martina for another cross, but Hajduk smuggle it clear for a corner.
28'
Hard work from Lookman, who wins a corner through sheer determination after chasing down a hopeful pass from Gueye. Again, Mirallas takes it, but again Hajduk clear their lines.
26'
Everton are just lacking the final pass in their moves at the moment, and Hajduk are so far serving unscathed.
24'
Another terrific cross in from Martina, which Rooney latches onto. England’s record goalscorer isn’t quite prepared for it, though, and his touch takes the ball out of play.
22'
Hajduk appear to have weathered the Everton storm now, and the hosts are certainly going to have to be clerk if they are to craft an opening against what is a disciplined opposition.
19'
M. Schneiderlin gets yellow.
The first booking of the game now, and it goes to Schneiderlin. The France midfielder dived in on Kozulj and did win the ball, but his studs were raised and he rightly picks up a caution.
17'
Lookman and Klaassen work it well on the cusp of the area, and the hosts again win a corner. Mirallas again puts in a decent cross, though the ball does not break kindly for anybody in blue.
14'
STAT - Everton were last in the Europa League play-off round in 2009/10, beating Sigma Olomouc 5-1 on aggregate over two legs.
12'
CHANCE! So close to an opener for Everton! Superb play from Rooney, who picks out Martina. He drives in a low cross that Klaassen looks set to tuck home, but the former Ajax skipper can’t apply the finish.
11'
A touching moment now, as the Everton fans pay tribute to young Rhys Jones, who was tragically murdered 10 years ago this week.
10'
More excellent, slick play from the Toffees, who have started sharply. Mirallas works the ball out to Martina, but the full-back overhits his cross. Baines is on hand to gather the loose ball, however, and manages to win a corner.
8'
Lookman and Martina link up well down the right wing, with the latter delivering a cross that - after taking a wicked defection - forces Stipica into a save. The ball falls out to Klaassen, but the Dutchman’s first-time strike sails over.
7'
CLOSE! Mirallas whips in the resulting corner, and though Rooney meets it, he cannot turn his header towards goal.
6'
Neat and tidy attacking football from the hosts, as Mirallas drifts infield to link up with Lookman. The former Charlton man lines up a shot that looks to be on target, only for it to be deflected over.
4'
Great play from Lookman, who drives forward at pace and takes on three visiting players in the progress. He lays the ball off to Rooney, who in turn finds Mirallas on the left, but the Belgian just dallies in possession and the move breaks down.
3'
Hajduk make some progress down the right flank, exposing some space vacated by the adventurous Baines. Schneiderlin, however, is back to make a good recovery.
1'
KICK-OFF! We are underway at Goodison!
Hello and welcome, football fans, to LIVE coverage of the first leg of Everton’s Europa League play-off against Hajduk Split!
Hajduk, who saw off both Levski Sofia and Brondby to make it into the play-off round for this season’s completion, are sure to represent a stern test for Ronald Koeman’s big-spending side over the two legs, with Everton having progressed courtesy of a 2-0 aggregate victory over Slovakian side MFK Ruzemberok.
Everton may have struggled to hit their best form against Ruzemberok, but they still managed to get their Premier League campaign off to a winning start thanks to Wayne Rooney’s header against Stoke City on Saturday. And Koeman will be looking for his side to lay down a marker this evening, in the hopes of avoiding what could well be an uncomfortable trip to Croatia for the second leg.
The team news is in from Goodison Park. We’ll start off with the hosts.
Koeman, who also allowed veteran Gareth Barry to leave the club this week, has made three changes in total from Saturday, with Kevin Mirallas, Ademola Lookman and Cuco Martina replacing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the injured Sandro Ramirez and birthday boy Phil Jagielka, respectively.
There is also no room in Everton’s squad for new record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson, who is unfit to feature having only arrived from Swansea City on Wednesday.
Speaking of Sigurdsson, here he is. The Iceland international, who will wear number 18 for the Toffees this season, is out on the Goodison pitch to meet the Everton faithful.
We’re rapidly approaching kick-off at Goodison, as the players make their way out onto the pitch. Everton have won seven of their last nine European games - including qualifiers.
HALF TIME: Everton 2 Hajduk Split 0.
An outstanding opening 45 minutes from the hosts, who are well worthy of their two goal lead. Michael Keane’s maiden Toffees goal put Ronald Koeman’s side ahead, before - in the final minute of regular time - Idrissa Gueye slotted in Everton’s second at the culmination of a slick move.
Wayne Rooney could - and perhaps should - have extended Everton’s lead on the stroke of half time, but his tame shot was well held by Dante Stipica. Now the home side must look to put this tie to bed after the interval.
Well, that’s it for now. Until next time, thank you and goodbye!
The final whistle goes, and it is a successful night for Everton, albeit a slightly frustrating one. Koeman’s side have a vital lead to take into the away leg, and a clean sheet to boot, though they will have to be on top form next Thursday to ensure progression into the Europa League group stages.
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