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Everton played their part in the storybook season of Leicester City. The Toffees looked overmatched all day, and it showed on the scoreboard as they lost 3-1 to the Foxes at the King Power Stadium on Saturday. I'm sure it will be a great ending to the inevitable movie to come in the future.
Leicester City, despite winning the Premier League comfortably, came into the day ranked 18th in the league in possession as they average 44.8 percent per game. It was more of the same today as Everton kept control for 58 percent of the match, but it certainly did not feel that way.
Everton did basically nothing when they had the ball, being outshot by the champions 30-9 and never really bothering goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel with anything too threatening until Kevin Mirallas scored on his own in the 88th minute. That itself was a brilliant moment to ruin the clean sheet, but a apart from that, it was Leicester City's day.
¡Qué golazo de #KevinMirallas para el descuento de los #Toffees al 88'! Gran jugada individual del belga. #LEIEVE pic.twitter.com/6R91jgF5ib
— G. Gabriel Garduño (@GabGardh) May 7, 2016
The first of the Foxes three goals was far too easy. Five minutes in, Andy King, without any pressure on him, crossed a nicely placed ball into the box, just out of the reach of John Stones. Bryan Oviedo, who struggled at right back, was beaten like a drum by Jamie Vardy. The English striker put his foot through it to give the hosts an early lead.
Vardy gets right back to it, scoring five minutes into the match. https://t.co/8GWkjp5jGt
— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) May 7, 2016
The second goal came in the 33rd minute when King cleaned up the trash a bit. Riyad Mahrez had worked the ball into the Everton box before losing it on a challenge. The ball rolled out to King, who smashed it into the net to make it 2-0.
Andy King's goal was good, but his celebration was better #LCFCChampions https://t.co/jPhLaFYCEw
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 7, 2016
Vardy finished it off in the second half. He and Matthew Pennington tangled legs in the box and Vardy went down to earn the penalty. After having some words with goalkeeper Joel Robles, Vardy slotted it past him to make it 3-0.
The Vardy party continues! #LCFCChampions https://t.co/lQjRrdyZ2H
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 7, 2016
It was a poor performance from the Toffees. Evertonian and host of The Men in Blazers on NBCSN, Roger Bennett summed it up on Twitter better than anyone else really could.
Everton playing with confidence of condemned prisoners forced to fight Lions before a baying crowd in The Colosseum
— roger bennett (@rogbennett) May 7, 2016
The Blues were bad. Romelu Lukaku looked uninterested at times. Ross Barkley disappeared. The defense as a whole was a mess...again. The effort from Aaron Lennon can be appreciated and Robles had some nice moments in goal. But really, this is becoming repetitive. The club isn't transforming. They continue to make the same mistakes that they have been for several months now. This season just needs to be over now. Better luck next year.
Everton do play a vital role in who will be in the Premier League next season. On Wednesday they face Sunderland, who with a win, clinch a spot in the BPL next season. The final game of the season is against Norwich City, who may or may not still be fighting for a spot at that time.