Montpellier suspend Haouas after latest brush with the law

LONDON: Four goals, four red cards and a last-gasp equalizer that will go down in English soccer lore.

It was quite the wild ride in the 120th and final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Everton captain James Tarkowski smashed a shot into the roof of the net in the eighth minute of stoppage time to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League.

It was virtually the last kick of the game, sparking wild celebrations inside one of English soccer’s most venerable and atmospheric stadiums, which will be demolished at the end of this season.

“Amazing to score and what an amazing night,” said Tarkowski, whose rare goal will be remembered as one of the great moments in Goodison Park’s long history.

The “Grand Old Lady” — as the stadium is fondly called by the locals — has been Everton’s home since 1892. The club is moving to a new 52,888-capacity venue at Bramley-Moore Dock on Liverpool’s waterfront.

Tarkowski’s strike denied Liverpool a victory that would have lifted the leaders nine points clear atop the league. Instead, Liverpool’s advantage over Arsenal is seven points after 24 games.

Beto put Everton ahead in the 11th minute — the striker celebrated by hitting LeBron James’ “Silencer” move — before Alexis Mac Allister equalized in the 16th by heading home a right-wing cross from Mohamed Salah, who put Liverpool in front in the 73rd with his league-leading 22nd goal of the campaign.

An incredible finish

Then came Tarkowski’s amazing — and, to some, fitting — intervention, with his goal only awarded after a long, agonizing video review for a potential offside in the buildup.

“I just saw the ball going wide and thought, ‘Last minute, why not?’ Tarkowski said. “It managed to fall to me and I let it rip.”

The action didn’t stop there.

After the final whistle, Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure appeared to celebrate in front of Liverpool’s fans and was confronted by Liverpool substitute Curtis Jones, leading to a melee involving more players, officials, stewards and even police officers.

Doucoure and Jones both were shown second yellow cards, while Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, got straight red cards. Slot might have been sent off for shaking the hand of referee Michael Oliver aggressively.

Goodbye to Goodison Park

The home fans created a typically feverish atmosphere — blue smoke filled the air around the ground before kickoff and Everton’s players were given a rapturous welcome as they arrived for the game — and they witnessed the most amazing of finishes.

“The place was boiling hot all night, emotional,” Everton manager David Moyes said. “It was an incredible atmosphere inside the stadium.”

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk acknowledged it was “intense” and had his own opinion on the post-match melee.

“I think Abdoulaye Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans,” Van Dijk said. “I think that is what I saw and Curtis Jones didn’t think it was the right thing to do. And then you know what happens if there is a little tussle.”

As for Slot’s thoughts on the game, the occasion and perhaps his own red card, they will have to wait. He wasn’t allowed to give post-match interviews after getting sent off, under Premier League rules.

The stats will show the teams met 120 times in all competitions at Goodison Park, starting with the first meeting in 1894, and each won 41 times.

It was a rearranged league game, with the original meeting — scheduled for Dec. 7 — postponed because of stormy weather.

Al-Taawoun drew 2-2 with Al-Wakrah of Qatar on Wednesday in the first leg of their round of 16 clash in AFC Champions League Two.

After taking the lead twice, to come away with a draw may have been a little disappointing, but the result puts the Saudi Arabian team within sight of advancing in the continental competition toward a major piece of silverware.

With fine results from Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr in the Champions League Elite — with all three teams already booking a place in the knockout stage of Asia’s premier tournament — their Saudi Pro League counterparts are now in a good position to go deeper in the continent’s second-tier competition.

The return match takes place in Buraidah next week and Al-Taawoun, who finished top of Group B in the first round, are the favorites to progress against their Qatari opponents, but there is still some work to do.

The visitors from Saudi Arabia were ahead after just 12 minutes at Khalifa International Stadium. Roger Martinez was brought down in the area and after the referee pointed to the spot, up stepped Aschraf El-Mahdioui to fire home the resultant penalty.

Al-Taawoun had chances in the first half to extend their lead but were left to regret those missed opportunities 10 minutes after the restart as the team from Qatar equalized, Ayoub Assal scoring at the far post after connecting with Farid Boulaya’s cross.

The Saudi Arabians were back in front just after the hour after Martinez burst into the penalty area and fired a low shot past the goalkeeper.

However, Al-Wakrah were not beaten and with 20 minutes remaining were back on level terms, thanks to a well-taken goal from Gelson Dala who shot home from just outside the six-yard box after good work from Boulaya on the left. 

The second leg takes place at the home of Al-Taawoun next Wednesday.