A man of the match performance from Super Eagles playmaker Alex Iwobi inspired his club, Everton, to a big win in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
Iwobi scored one and assisted another for the first time ever in England as the Toffees continued their impressive start to the 2020/21 season with an easy 2-5 win over Fleetwood at the Highbury Stadium.
Iwobi had been a notable omission from Everton’s opening two games of the season (the 1-0 league win at Spurs and 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over Salford City) due to an injury but played for the first time this season when he came off the bench in Saturday’s success against West Brom.
Handed his first start of the season by Carlo Ancelotti in one of six changes, his first contribution of the night arrived just after the hour mark when he set up Richarlison to double their advantage with an outrageous backheel pass on 34 minutes.
Five minutes into the second half, he grabbed his goal and Everton’s third to make it 3-1, just one minute after Matt Duffy had pulled one back for the home side.
In what was his 180th appearance in England, the 24-year-old forward marked it with a brilliant display to open his account for the season in some style.
“It’s always good to score but the main thing is the team goes through to the next round. I’m glad I was able to help, ” Iwobi told the club moments after the win.
The goal was Iwobi’s third for Everton since his move to the Merseyside club last summer.
Everton and Iwobi will face West Ham next in the round of 16 when the EFL Cup returns next week.
Leicester lose without Ndidi
In a related development, a Wilfred Ndidi-less Leicester City side crashed out of the EFL Cup after a 0-2 defeat to Arsenal at the King Power.
Both goals came in the second half of the game, Christian Fuch’s own goal put the Gunners ahead on 57 minutes before a late Edward Nketiah goal sealed the win for Mikel Arteta’s men.
The Foxes were without their Nigerian star, who has been ruled out for up to two months with a groin injury.
His compatriot, Kelechi Iheanacho, however, started and finished the game but failed to add to his impressive EFL Cup tally as Leicester lost for the first time this season.
