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Europa League Qualifying | Third Qualifying Round
Aug 3, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
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Live Commentary: MFK Ruzomberok 0-1 Everton - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Everton's victory over MFK Ruzomberok in the Europa League third qualifying round.
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Everton have recorded a 1-0 win over MFK Ruzomberok to move through to the Europa League playoff round.

With a one-goal lead from the first leg, the Premier League side put in a lacklustre performance as they looked to maintain their interest in Europe and they were eventually grateful for Dominic Calvert-Lewin's late introduction.

The England Under-20 international found the bottom corner from 20 yards during the closing stages, and his effort ensured that the minnows' run in the competition came to an end.

Read below to see how the action unfolded in Slovakia.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the second leg of the Europa League third qualifying round tie between MFK Ruzomberok and Everton.

At this stage of the season, it's not often that games of high importance are played by clubs from the Premier League but this evening, Everton will attempt to avoid all of their pre-season optimism counting for nothing when they try to progress through to the final qualifying round of the Europa League. On paper, they should have too much for Ruzomberok, but their Slovakian opponents showed in the first leg that they should not be discounted from this tie.

We are not going to hang about about with the team news this evening. Here is the starting lineup and substitutes' bench which has been picked by Ronald Koeman.

EVERTON XI: Pickford, Keane, Jagielka, Williams, Davies, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Baines, Klaassen, Rooney, Ramirez

EVERTON SUBSTITUTES: Stekelenburg, Martina, Holgate, Barry, Mirallas, Lookman, Calvert-Lewin

It would have been easy for Koeman to stick with the team which edged last week's tie, but the Dutchman has decided to make a number of changes, and if Everton's Twitter account is anything to go by, tinker with his formation. It appears that he will use a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Tom Davies playing in an unfamiliar role of right wing-back and Wayne Rooney partnering Sandro Ramirez in attack. Jordan Pickford is also given his first competitive start between the sticks after his £30m move from Sunderland.

As far as the bench is concerned, Maarten Stekelenburg drops down to the replacements - despite impressing last week - while Cuco Martina, Kevin Mirallas and Dominic Calvert-Lewin also have to play second fiddle. Koeman has made some interesting decisions tonight. We will have to wait to see if they pay off.

It took a while to get hold of Ruzomberok's starting lineup last week, and it appears to be a similar occurrence this evening. We will bring you that as soon as we get it.

MFK RUZOMBEROK XI: Macik, J.Maslo, P.Maslo, Kruzliak, Menich, Dalibor, Qose, Kochan, Daniel, Haskic, Gal-Andrezly

Ruzomberok boss Norbert Hrncar has kept with the side which performed so well at Goodison Park. Nermin Haskic again leads the attack with former Middlesbrough reserve team player Peter Gal-Andrezly in support. Erik Daniel is a player to keep an eye on in midfield, Matus Macik, Jan Maslo and Peter Maslo all had good games last week.

One player who impressed for Everton last week was summer signing Davy Klaassen. When he first arrived at Goodison Park, there was the suggestion that the Dutch midfielder could be an upgrade on Ross Barkley and while it is just one performance, he certainly showed glimpses of what he can offer his new team. Not only did some neat touches lead to chances being created, he also found himself on the end of some deliveries from his teammates. There's a touch of Frank Lampard about him and if he can offer half the return of the legendary England international, Everton have got some player on their books.

Sandro Ramirez was made to settle for a place on the bench last week but when he was introduced, he showed a desire to impress the Everton supporters. He was probably too eager on occasions and that led to shots being taken at the wrong moment, but with more time from the start, he doesn't have to be so gung-ho tonight. He will also head into this fixture knowing that one goal - an away goal at that - might prove enough to earn the Toffees a place in the next round.

Further back, Stekelenburg will count himself unfortunate to be on the bench. He did everything asked of him last week and keeping a home clean sheet in Europe is always important. However, he will know the score after the arrival of Pickford. Everton are not going to pay £30m for a goalkeeper and not put him between the sticks when given the opportunity. That said, the pressure is on the young Englishman to make an assured debut.

Remaining on the new signing front, Michael Keane will seemingly take his place on the right side of a back three this evening to accommodate the inclusion of Phil Jagielka. The change is probably centred around Ruzomberok's threat from set pieces. They had one header hit the bar last week and it's an area which the Toffees must stayed focused on tonight.

Ruzomberok are already two games into their league campaign and they warmed up for this match with a 4-0 demolition of FK Senica. Much has been made of their home ground - which boasts a capacity of just 4,876 - and they are certainly going to back themselves to make the most of the setting this evening.

PREDICTION! We are expecting a nervy evening for Everton. Southampton and West Ham United have both failed in the Europa League qualifying rounds in recent years and that highlights how difficult it is for Premier League teams at this stage of the season. We think they will progress, but only after a 1-1 draw on the night.

It's time for the two teams to make their way out in Slovakia. Kickoff is coming right up.

Ruzomberok get us underway.

It's certainly a physical start from Ruzomberok. There have already been a couple of strong coming-togethers with Ramirez. Everton are controlling possession during these early stages.

This has been a really sharp start from Everton. They are yet to create any opportunities but they have set their stall out. They are moving the ball about quickly and making their opponents do some chasing.It may pay off later in the game.

CHANCE! We mentioned Ruzomberok's threat from set pieces during the build-up, and they should have made more of this one. Kruzliak met a near-post corner, only to direct his header over the crossbar.

Since that opening, Ruzomberok have started to have much more of the play and they are looking a bigger threat in the final third. Daniel did well to get to the byline, only for his low cross to be snuffed out by Pickford.

Everton look fine when they are in possession, but not so much when they lose the ball. There appears to be too much space for Ruzomberok to exploit, especially in wide areas. It is something which Koeman must keep an eye on.

Bit better from Everton, with a move starting from a forward-thinking run from Keane. Rooney and Ramirez also feature before Davies's cross goes straight at the goalkeeper, who claims at the second attempt.

CHANCE! Rooney has just tried to chip the goalkeeper from inside the penalty area. I'm not sure if that was the shot. It drifts harmlessly over the crossbar.

Slowly but surely, Everton are starting to find more space of their own in the final third. Their final ball is leaving a lot to be desired, but it is more encouraging for Koeman. Ruzomberok still very much in this, however.

While Everton are finding more space,it seems like Ruzomberok have worked Ramirez out. They are tight to him when he is receiving the ball at his feet and he is having no joy with runs in behind. Everton have got a good deal for him, but still much to improve on.

Over the past few minutes, Ruzomberok have started to get a few more crosses into the penalty area. They are mixing high balls up with long balls and it is keeping Everton alert at the back.

CHANCE! Half-chance for Everton. Davies does brilliantly down the right-hand side and his cross ends up finding Rooney. However, the returning forward completes misses his kick and the opening is lost.

CHANCE! Again, this is only a half-chance, but it's a chance nonetheless. Davies's long pass to Keane catches everyone out but the defender's shot goes well wide of the far post from around 20 yards.

This is much better from Everton, who are forcing their hosts into more work at the back. However, that clear-cut chance still evades them. A neat passing exchange almost led to a headed opportunity for Rooney but the defender put the ball behind for a corner.

Much of the same from Everton, who remain prepared to pass the ball about before trying to create an opening in the final third. Ruzomberok continue to do an effective job in keeping things tight.

It's early days, but I'm convinced about Ramirez's general play. He has proven he can score goals but his decision-making has been poor during his early minutes in an Everton shirt. On this occasion, he failed to take a shot first time and ended up being pushed out wide before firing over from an acute angle.

HALF TIME: MFK Ruzomberok 0-0 Everton

After a minute of added-on time, we head into half time still goalless. It's been a desperately poor game and while that suits Everton for now, they are struggling to show their class. Ruzomberok are still in this and a goal for the Slovakian outfit will make things very interesting.

SUBSTITUTION! Ruzomberok are making a change. Milos Lacny is replacing Daniel.

Everton get us back underway.

SHOT! Well it turns out that Daniel is still on the pitch because he has just fired over from distance. It looks like Menich is the man to go off.

Everton are inches away from getting a shot on goal. Rooney and Davies combine well down the right but the wing-back's pass just evades Klaassen and doesn't possess enough pace to reach Baines without a defender getting in the way.

CHANCE! Everton have started to drop deeper and deeper and it almost leads to Ruzomberok taking the lead. A fine move ends with Daniel getting the ball on the right but his cross-cum-shot goes inches wide of the far post.

Everton are having some joy down the right flank through both Davies and Keane but they still can't create a chance. On this occasion, Keane cut inside and floated a ball towards Rooney in the centre but it was too high for the forward.

We are through an hour in Slovakia and we remain goalless. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that is how it stays but you would assume that Ruzomberok will start to push players forward sooner rather than later.

A nice flick from Rooney leads to Baines getting clear down the left flank but his low cross doesn't beat the first defender. He has to be doing better with that, especially when he possesses such quality with his left foot.

Back come Ruzomberok, who are starting to show the ambition which will probably be required to force an equaliser. They win a couple of corners from the left but Everton defend well at the near post.

SUBSTITUTION! Everton's first change sees Dominic Calvert-Lewin replace Ramirez. It had been coming.

SUBSTITUTION! Ruzomberok follow suit by bringing on the experienced Marek Sapara. He comes on for Dalibor Takac.

Calvert-Lewin has done much than Ramirez has. It has taken him a few minutes. The England Under-20 hero brings the ball down and tees up Rooney but his teammate takes far too long to get a shot away and it eventually dispossessed.

Everton win a corner after Klaassen is found in acres of space down the right but he should have done a lot better with his cross. He hasn't had much of an impact on this game. The set piece almost found Jagielka but his mistimed header went straight to the goalkeeper.

GOAL! MFK Ruzomberok 0-1 Everton (Calvert-Lewin)

Everton find the breakthrough and with it, all but confirm their place in the next round. A through-ball from Klaassen finds Calvert-Lewin and after biding his time, he slots the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Relief for Koeman.

SUBSTITUTION! Koeman takes the opportunity to make another alteration, with Gareth Barry replacing Schneidlerin.

SUBSTITUTION! It's all about running the clock down now and Koeman uses his final change to bring on Kevin Mirallas for Rooney.

Ruzomberok are doing all they can to net a consolation goal but the quality is lacking once they reach the final third. They have given a good account of themselves, however.

SHOT! Mirallas drills a free kick straight at the goalkeeper from the side of the penalty area. There will be three minutes of added-on time.

FULL TIME: MFK Ruzomberok 0-1 Everton

The full-time whistle goes in Slovakia and Everton have comfortably held on to claim a place in the Europa League playoff round. They made things difficult for themselves but their extra quality ultimately proved decisive. Koeman and his squad will now wait to see who they draw in tomorrow's draw.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.

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