Everton 2 - Apollon Limassol 2: Toffees held by ten-men Cypriot side at home

EVERTON suffered Europa League embarrassment against unfancied Cypriot opposition at Goodison Park last night.

Apollon LimassolGETTY

Apollon Limassol struck late to equalise against Everton

Even with 10 men, after a late sending-off, Apollon struck for an 88th minute equaliser when Hector Yuste headed in a free-kick.

Everton sub Nikola Vlasic thought he had delivered the winner in the 66th minute, finishing clinically after Wayne Rooney benefitted from a fortunate bounce off a defender, Gylfi Sigurdsson playing in his teenage team-mate.

Rooney had earlier equalised with his third goal of the season for the Toffees but it was another far from convincing performance from the big-spending team Merseyside club.

After suffering a humbling 3-0 defeat at Italian side Atalanta in their opening group game, Ronald Koeman desperately needed a win to kick start their European campaign.

But the game was only 12 minutes old when Koeman saw a terrible defensive slip by Ashley Williams gift the visitors the opener.

Ronald KoemanGETTY

Ronald Koeman's Everton have one point from a possible six in the Europa League

There was no pressure on the Welsh international as he looked to deal with a stray through ball.

Williams cleared the ball directly to Anton Maglica and his cross found Spanish forward Adrian Sardinero who scored at the second attempt after Jordan Pickford blocked his initial, close-range shot.

And Everton were equally fortunate as a poor Mason Holgate clearance allowed Georgios Vasiliou a shot from 30 yards that whistled just wide.

It was a worrying start for the Toffees, who had been required to come from behind to beat Bournemouth on Saturday.

But fortunately for Koeman, Apollon were just as shaky in defence as his side and handed Rooney the equaliser in the 21st minute.

Wayne RooneyGETTY

Wayne Rooney scored after a terrible backpass

Full-back Yuste, under pressure from Sandro, hit an awful back pass that flew past keeper Bruno Vale and allowed Rooney to walk it into an empty goal.

It was just the lucky break Everton had needed, relieving the pressure and adding momentum to their attacking play.

Four minutes later, Jonjoe Kenny’s cross saw Rooney, right, swing and miss with Sigurdsson hooking the loose ball straight at the keeper.

Rooney also suffered a hand injury in that move, after a defender accidentally stamped on it, and the former England captain was clearly in pain as he received treatment and returned with the wrist heavily strapped.

Rooney then curled a shot narrowly wide on the half-hour after persistence and strong play by Williams opened up the visitor’s defence.

Bryan Cristante scores for Atalanta against Everton

But the Cypriots proved they still posed a threat when defender Yuste rose well to head Joao Pedro’s corner onto the roof of the Everton goal.

Davies, with a firm shot from open play, and Sigurdsson, with a similar effort from a 20- yard free-kick, tested the  keeper.

Koeman threw on forward Vlasic at half-time and there was a little more tempo about Everton’s play.

Rooney almost played in Sigurdsson, with Vale hurrying over to cover, but there were still concerns in defence where Antonio Jakolis was allowed far too much space and his 25-yard strike forced Pickford into a diving save.

Apollon’s Valentin Roberge was sent off in the closing stages for stamping on the back of sub Dominic Calvert-Lewin and then Yuste stunned Goodison with his late leveller.

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