Arouna Kone scored a late goal to earn Everton a point in their Premier League opening-day clash against Watford at Goodison Park this afternoon.
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The Hornets took the lead in the 14th minute when the home side failed to clear their lines and Miguel Layun latched on to the ball outside the box to drill a left-footed volley past Tim Howard.
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Everton rallied and almost found an equaliser as Gareth Barry connected with a header from close range, but Heurelho Gomes made an impressive stop to keep his effort out of the net.
The Toffees upped the ante to get back into the game and Ross Barkley carved out space to drill a strike at goal from distance, but his effort sailed wide of the post.
Barkley caused problems for the visitors again as he charged through the midfield and fired a dipping effort towards the bottom corner, but Gomes made a fine stop to deny the England international.
In the second half, Kevin Mirallas almost found an equaliser for his side when he curled a cross into the box, which evaded everyone in the area, and forced Gomes to tip his effort over the bar.
Minutes later Barkley lifted a dangerous cross into the box for the run of Romelu Lukaku, but the striker put his header wide of the post.
Everton finally got their equaliser through Barkley in the 76th minute when he collected a lay-off from Arouna Kone and powered an effort past Gomes into the top corner.
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However, Odion Ighalo restored his side's lead when he burst through two challenges and into the box before slotting the ball past Howard.
There was to be another twist in the game when Kone levelled the scores in the 86th minute as Lukaku played the ball into his path and he buried his strike into the bottom corner.
Simon Sinclair
