Arteta’s double vision fails to stop him grabbing Everton’s late winner

LESS than 48 hours after more European heroics, Roy Hodgson’s much-changed Fulham were left frustrated after going down to a last-gasp defeat against Everton yesterday.

After a goalless draw in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final in Hamburg on Thursday, Hodgson made nine changes for the match at Goodison Park.

The only outfield player to survive from the Nordbank Arena was Chris Baird, who is suspended for Thursday night’s return game at Craven Cottage. Even so, with the likes of Clint Dempsey and Erik Nevland putting in outstanding performances, Fulham’s second string came close to picking up a first-ever victory at Goodison Park.

Nevland gave Fulham the lead before the interval before Victor Anichebe equalised just after the break and Mikel Arteta’s penalty, awarded with 23 seconds of three minutes added time remaining, earned Everton a victory that keeps alive their slim hopes of some Europa League fun next season.

It was rough on the Londoners and Hodgson did not attempt to play down his disappointment.

“The changes improved us because the players that played in Hamburg would have found it very hard to produce that performance,” he said.

“We were taking a bit of a chance, with players that hadn’t played much but I had faith and confidence in them and they repaid that faith and confidence fully.

“The deserved point was stolen from us in injury time. [But] Thursday is a much bigger priority than this one. I wanted to make certain that we go into that game with as many players that I want to select fully-fit.”

It appears that Bobby Zamora, who is struggling with an achilles injury, will not be part of that group with Hodgson claiming he is “hopeful but not confident” that the striker will be available. If he is not, Nevland proved he is an able deputy with a goal that rewarded some fine anticipation.

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov had already hit the post in a fine opening quarter for the hosts, when Fulham struck.

With Fabio Capello’s lieutenant Franco Baldini watching in the stands, Leighton Baines attempted to pass back to Tim Howard without even bothering to look up allowing Nevland to lift the ball over the Everton goalkeeper.

That work was undone when Anichebe headed in off Chris Smalling after evading Yakubu’s attempt at an overhead kick from a wonderful cross from Arteta.

Fulham might have restored their lead when Nevland played Stefano Okaka through only for the on-loan Roma striker to shoot straight at Howard.

And deep into added time referee Lee Mason penalised Baird’s clumsy challenge on Tim Cahill and Arteta fired in his sixth goal in six games.

The Spaniard’s contribution was all the more remarkable as his manager David Moyes revealed that Arteta could not even see straight.

Arteta was caught by John Pantsil’s elbow and then required seven stitches in a gash above his eye that came from a heavy collision with Kagisho Dikgacoi.

It was a penalty that just about keeps Everton’s season alive, although they are five points adrift of seventh-placed Liverpool with two games remaining.

But with Arteta playing as he is, anything is possible. “He feels a bit dizzy and I’ve told him he’s Scottish,” David Moyes joked.

“He’s not great. He needed stitches around his eye but he got a knock on his head before that.

“He kept his nerve and it was big penalty.”

MATCH RATING:*** – Incredibly flat to begin with but a thrilling climax to keep Everton’s slim European hopes alive.

REFEREE: Lee Mason (Lancashire). Quiet day for official, who stepped in for Phil Dowd. Spot on with his decisions and if anything let too much go.