Fans at a youth match last night watched a shocking penalty miss to help Everton seal the Premier League 2 title against Brighton.
The Toffees were already 1-0 up after 21 minutes when former Queens Park Rangers player Josh Bowler picked out the bottom corner to give them the lead and helping his side secure the title.
⚽ | Josh Bowler picks out the bottom corner to give us the lead!
GET IN! ? #EFCU23 pic.twitter.com/0f2iYYxUbB
— Everton (@Everton) 15 April 2019
With 9 minutes left to go, Brighton however could have prevented them from winning the league as they were given a penalty following a foul by Lewis Gibson.
However Viktor Gyökeres stepped up to take the spot kick and ended up slipping and sending the ball over the bar, causing celebrations in the stand behind the goal whilst the player put his head to ground in disappointment.
Everyone at South Manchester blues can sympathise with this Brighton u23 player, we know from experience how slippy it is down that end of the pitch ?⚽ @everton #crossbarchallenge pic.twitter.com/QMOgvhtJcZ
— south mcr blues (@SthMcrBlues) 15 April 2019
Time on the clock eventually went down until the whistle blew and confirmed Everton under 23’s PL2 title win for the second time in three seasons.
It is estimated that a great turnout of 5,000+ attended the much anticipated match at Goodison Park.
Cue photos and videos of the celebrations…
— Toffee TV (@ToffeeTVEFC) 15 April 2019
? | CHAMPIONÉS, CHAMPIONÉS, OLE, OLE, OLE!
Absolute scenes back in the #EFCU23 dressing room! ??? pic.twitter.com/o9vM7BdsCY
— Everton (@Everton) 15 April 2019
The Everton U23s squad all go over to the Park End now, great support from Blues fans tonight! pic.twitter.com/HWrd7EITDj
— Adam Jones (@Adam_Jones94) 15 April 2019
WHAT IS THE PREMIER LEAGUE 2?
Sky Sports simply sums it up: “Premier League 2 will replace the current U21 league, with the age range extended to incorporate U23s.
“However, each team can field a goalkeeper over the age limit of 23 and up to three ‘over-age’ outfield players can take part in every match.
“Players must have been born after January 1, 1993 to be eligible, though.
“Premier League 2 has been designed to boost the number of home grown players progressing into the first-team squad of the clubs involved. The idea is to give the young players at those clubs a matchday experience closer to the one they would find in the first team.
Departing Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said: “We are always trying to develop more and better home grown players, with a record 67 making their debut last season. The hardest part for players is the transition period from development football to the first team. Premier League 2 is structured to give players the optimum opportunity to get to the Premier League through more competitive and meaningful game time.
“The average age for a player to make their first team debuts is between 22 and 23. Therefore it is right that we extend the age range to Under-23 to give greater opportunities for players to make it.”
After Everton U23s confirmed their Premier League 2 title win last night, fans plus current and ex-players took to social media to give their reaction – find out what they had to say on the next page.
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