Posted on September 22, 2012
SWANSEA, Wales — U.S. National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard just about stood on his head for Everton in its 3-0 English Premier League win over 10-man Swansea City on Saturday.
Howard, a former member of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, made several key saves en route to the away clean sheet in an early EPL match on Saturday. It was his second shutout of the season.
Everton, which started the day in seventh place, improved to 3-1-1 with 10 points and moved into second place. Swansea, which began in fifth place, fell to 2-2-1 and seven points.
The hosts almost spoiled Howard’s clean sheet as they banged a free kick off the woodwork in the third minute of stoppage time.
“I would have liked to have put it to bed a little earlier but we were always in control,” Everton manager David Moyes told EvertonTV. “Swansea did have some chances just before halftime and we needed to defend well and our keeper to make some great saves but he is there to do that.”
Howard down played his role on EvertonTV.
“There were a few scares,” he said. “Goalkeepers are there to make the saves. When you don’t you hang your head but we rode our luck and I made a few saves and 3-0 makes it look a lot better than it might have been.”
Howard’s best save came against Ki Sung-Yueng as he was forced to dive to his right and diverting the South Korean’s low drive up and over the bar with a swipe of his arm.
“I saw it late, it was in a comfortable area but I saw it late. He hit it well, with good pace; I managed to get it up and off the floor and over the bar and it made it look nicer than it might have done,” Howard said. “Like I always say if you work hard you get some luck now and then.”
Victor Anichebe, Kevin Mirallas and Maroaune Fellaini scored for the visitors.
“They pass you off the park, spread you out and make it really tough for you,” Howard told EvertonTV. “But we did a job today, we had a gameplan and it worked for us.
“We wanted to stop them from playing. Most teams, you put them under pressure and they lump it. They are happy to take the ball under pressure in difficult areas of the field so everyone has to be switched on and every player know what is happening in their area of the field.
“When we had the ball we went forward, we didn’t just possess it for the sake of it. It allowed us to open them up and create some chances. We wanted to be a little bit more clinical but the boys finished their chances well and we went away 3-0 winners.”
Swansea was forced to play the final 32 minutes of the match a man down after halftime substitute Nathan Dyer was given his marching orders after receiving his second yellow card in the 58th minute.
Photo: Tim Howard was superb for Everton in its 3-0 win for Everton. Andy Mead/YCJ
Categories: North America, U.S.A.
Tags: Chelsea, English Premier League, Everton, Kevin Mirallas, Maroaune Fellaini, Nathan Dyer, Stoke City, Swansea City, Tim Howard, Victor Anichebe
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