Owen Bevan twice made decisive last ditch tackles to stop Everton when they did break into the Dee penalty area. The first to stop Tyrique George was relatively straightforard. The second, as Beto shaped to shoot, was the sort of decisive goal saving tackle that delights supporters.
Dundee regularly played their way into promising positions and managed some threatening efforts. Ethan Hamilton and Charlie Reilly had shots from the edge of the penalty area but their efforts were blocked or too high.
Everton took the lead late in the half when Beto spun to shoot from 18 yards. His shot took a deflection off Aaron Donnelly that left the diving O’Hara helpless.
It was a bit tough on Dundee who had passed the ball well and attaack with good movement.
Second half and Dundee made seven changes, Everton nearly scored but the shot went wide off the goal. On 61 minites Everton made 7 changes as well.
The second half was played at a relaxed pace with Dundee holding their own in open play. Everton made seven changes after 61 minutes, when the Dark Blues made their final two changes; Simon Murray and Ethan Crombie replaced Joe Westley and Zan Besir. The pattern of the game didn’t change, but the Toffees ran away with the game thanks to a series of defensive errors.
After 69 minutes Harry Sharp hesitated on the ball and Thierno Barry blocked his attempted pass to send the ball looping into the net.
Ash Hay almost pulled a goal back for the Dee when he took Fin Robertson’s pass and shot from 12 yards. King denied him with a superb save at full stretch.
In the last 10 minutes Everton added two more goals that were almost identical. Sharp sent a pass straight to Harvey Foster . who shot into the empty net. A few minutes later Ryan Astley gave Sharp an awkward pass back, and the keeper’s pass was blocked by Malik Olayiwola and Carlos Alcaraz quickly passed sideways to give Dwight McNeil an open goal.
And that was that the errors cost Dundee today, who for most of the game done well against a good English Premier League side.
Dundee: O’Hara, Oosenbrugh, Owen Bevan, Donnelly, Odutayo, Finnigan, Hamilton, Joe Bevan, Reilly, Besir, Westley
Second Half: Sharp, Halliday, Astley, Donnelly, Oosenbrugh, Jones, Besir (Crombie 61), Hay, Robertson, Forrest. Westley (Murray 61). Unused Sub: Bland.
