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Cape Town - Everton
manager Ronald Koeman says we have an early contender for goal of the
season after Gylfi Sigurdsson struck in Thursday’s draw with Hajduk
Split.
The Iceland international equalised for the Toffees just after halftime in Croatia, earning a 1-1 draw on the night and a 3-1 success on aggregate to seal their place in the Europa League group stages.
"I saw Gylfi's goal, but I don't think everyone on the bench did," Koeman told his club's official website. "It was incredible. I don't have any other word for it.
"You need to be really clever to see that possibility and, after two or three weeks of the season, it could be the goal of the season. It was really important to be level so quickly in the second half.''
Josip Radosevic had put the Croatian side ahead just before the break, but Sigurdsson’s long-range stunner pulled them back level on the night before another big-money signing, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, saved a 65th-minute penalty from Ahmed Said.
"The penalty save was key as well because there were still 30 minutes to go at that time," Koeman added.
"Jordan is showing that we made the right decision to sign him. He is still a young goalkeeper and I have been really impressed by what he's done from day one here. It is an important position in the team. There's a big future for Everton and a big future for him.''
"We dropped a little bit in the first half to be compact but I thought we did well from the start. The goal just before half-time made it difficult, but before that neither side created many chances."
Everton next face a daunting trip to Stamford Bridge against English Premiership champions Chelsea on Sunday.
Kick off is at 14:30.
