Premier League: Everton 2 Newcastle United 2

Everton drew their first match of the season in an end-to-end game with Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Monday.

The impressive Leighton Baines gave his side a deserved lead in a dominant first half for Everton, only for substitute Demba Ba to equalise early in the second half.

Substitute Victor Anichebe thought he had won the game late on only for Ba to equalise for a second time moments later.

With just one minute on the clock the ball was already in the Newcastle net, only to be correctly ruled out after Nikita Jelavic was called offside as he tapped in Marouane Fellaini’s rebounded effort.

Jelavic’s knee collided with the post as he slid in, an injury that would later force him off the pitch to be replaced by Anichebe.

It was Everton who were on top in the early stages, with the away side struggling to find their way out of their own half. It seemed only a matter of time until Everton took the lead.

With 15minutes on the clock, the goal came. After a period of patient build-up from the home side, Baines crashed in a low shot past Steve Harper in the Newcastle goal.

The telling move began when Baines played a ball to Steven Pienaar’s feet who produced a neat flick for the oncoming left-back, who took a touch forward before driving the ball into the bottom corner.

The home side came close to extending their lead when Kevin Mirallas rifled in a curling shot from 25 yards that narrowly flew past Harper’s left hand post.

Nevertheless, despite their sluggish approach to the game, Newcastle had two good chances to draw level. Papiss Cisse lashed just wide with his side’s first genuine chance of the game, and Vurnon Anita saw his close range shot cleared off the line by Baines.

Ba was brought off the bench for the start of the second half to replace the ineffective Sylvain Marveux, and within four minutes the former West Ham forward had forged his side level.

Yohan Cabaye picked out the Senegalese striker with a perfect pass, and Ba was only too grateful to shoot across the hapless Howard to equalise.

Belgian Fellaini thought he had restored his side’s lead only for his close range effort to be ruled offside, despite looking level with defender Steven Taylor when played in by Pienaar.

There was late drama as Anichebe’s close range header seemed to cross the line, only for Everton’s appeals to be ignored by the officials.

More controversy followed as Newcastle immediately countered and it seemed as if Ben Arfa had found himself through on goal after a mazy run, only for the referee to call the play back for a free-kick ignoring any potential advantage.

However, Anichebe would not be denied for a second time and it seemed as if his 88th minute goal had given his side the win. He controlled well in the Newcastle area and turned to crash home into the bottom corner.

Remarkably, Newcastle equalised once again through Ba.

A hopeful long ball forward was flicked on by substitute Shola Ameobi, and his new strike partner ran on to the loose ball to bundle home to the delight of the traveling Newcastle contingent.