Yakubu brace lifts Everton back into fourth spot
Moyes' team back into fourth
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Sunday, 02, Mar 2008 07:31
Yakubu scored twice as Everton move a step closer to achieving their Champions League ambitions with a 3-1 victory over Portsmouth.
The Nigerian needed less than 50 seconds to put the home side in front, heading in against his former club after the Portsmouth defence failed to clear a Steven Pienaar free-kick.
After the early goal, David Moyes' team dominated the visitors, passing the ball about with ease and Tim Cahill and Leon Osman in particular getting involved in some neat exchanges in the middle of the Goodison Park pitch.
Everton failed to make the most of their possession and Portsmouth drew level just before half time with their first real attempt on goal.
New striker Jermain Defoe was on hand to turn in a Glen Johnson cross with the slightest of touches in front of watching England manager Fabio Capello.
However, it was another international contender Andrew Johnson who made the biggest impression of the day, coming off the bench to inject a fresh sense of vigor into the Everton attack.
Cahill then restored the host's lead, bursting into the area to head in a pin-point Pienaar centre, while David James was required to intercept a cross with a diving header after he made a mess of collecting the ball outside of the area.
Yakubu secured the points and lifted Everton back into fourth spot ahead of local rivals Liverpool with a superbly taken individual goal in the closing minutes.