Romelu Lukaku's coolly-taken goal cancelled out Manuel Lanzini's opener as Everton left Upton Park with a point following a 1-1 draw at West Ham United this afternoon.
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Everton almost got their noses in front after six minutes as Adrian miscued a punch from Arouna Kone's cross, but the Spanish goalkeeper did just enough to put of the lurking Lukaku.
The hosts were nearly caught napping with a quickly-taken free kick after 20 minutes, but Kone smashed his shot wide from 20 yards. At the other end, Aaron Cresswell curled an attempt inches wide of the upright with Tim Howard off his line.
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Less than a minute after Gerard Deulofeu's low shot was saved by Adrian, Lanzini capitalised as Everton failed to clear a cross and the winger directed the ball into the top corner from inside the area to put West Ham 1-0 up.
However, Lukaku struck back with half time approaching as he calmly rounded Adrian before slotting the ball into an empty net.
The hosts were dealt a blow five minutes into the second half as Dimitri Payet hobbled off with an injury sustained in the first period.
Lanzini almost grabbed his second goal of the game after 64 minutes when he cut inside before firing a powerful strike just the wrong side of the upright.
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Enner Valencia became the second West Ham man to leave the field to injury when he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher following a Seamus Coleman challenge.
Winston Reid came close to restoring West Ham's lead on his return to the side with a towering header, but the defender's attempt flew over the crossbar.
Lukaku almost netted a late winner for the Toffees, but the Belgian sent his attempt wide from Brendan Galloway's low cross.
Kristian Johnson
