Huddersfield 1-2 Everton: Andros Townsend secures Carabao Cup win

Fresh from playing alongside Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, Moise Kean’s miserable time at Everton sunk to a new low as he was sent off at the John Smith’s.

Though Rafa Benitez’s side squeezed past battling Huddersfield with a late winner from Andros Townsend, poor Kean will be wondering when his luck is going to change.

Loaned to PSG last season to regain his mojo, the £25million striker was granted his first Everton start for a year only to have a goal disallowed – despite being onside – and then received a controversial red card when he squared up to Huddersfield’s Sorba Thomas.

Kean had been caught by the defender after 59 minutes and turned around to confront him with a barge into the chest. 

To the fury of Everton’s players, referee Matthew Donohue decided there was sufficient force in the retaliation with a raised hand to order the 21-year-old from the pitch.

‘He will learn from it. He is only young,’ said Benitez, who would have been pleased to hear some Evertonians chant his own name at the end.

In the circumstances, the Premier League side will be relieved to remain in the competition. They have never won the League Cup and not lifted any trophy since 1995.

They were rewarded for a bright start when Tom Davies released Alex Iwobi midway through the first half and he applied a tidy finish despite having netted only twice last season. Kean then lashed his finish into the top corner but the goal was chalked off for offside.

Huddersfield boss Carlos Corberan hails from Valencia and idolises Benitez for winning LaLiga twice with his hometown club.

There was too much respect from his side towards Everton in the opening half-hour until Danel Sinani slashed a golden chance wide from four yards.

From then on, the Championship underdogs woke up and deservedly levelled on the stroke of half-time when Tom Lees headed Thomas’s corner for his first goal of 2021.

Begovic, making his Everton debut, kept his side in the game with a brilliant save from Duane Holmes. From the resulting corner, Matty Pearson headed in but after the wild celebrations, he realised it had been chalked off.

Even though referee Matthew Donohue signalled a push on Mason Holgate which looked harsh, Terriers forward Fraizer Campbell was also standing in an offside position so the right decision was reached.

Tempers were further frayed when Kean clashed with Thomas. The player walked off looking calm but the rest of his team-mates surrounded the official to complain.

To Everton’s credit, they used their sense of injustice to snatch a winner. Everton showed great character from the setback to regain the lead after 79 minutes.

Iwobi fed substitute Andre Gomes who wriggled along the byline and pulled back for Townsend to convert from close range in front of three thousand jubilant travelling fans. 

It was the winger’s first goal for his new club having been released by Crystal Palace in the summer.

Benitez said: ‘I was pleased with the way we approached the game. It wasn’t easy. They got a lot of belief with their goal.’

On the red card, the Everton boss said it represented a good lesson for Kean. ‘It was a mistake (from Kean). 

‘We can not lose our temper,’ he said. ‘I saw when they pushed each other. He is a young player and will learn from this.’

Corberan had his own hard-luck story: ‘The referee decided our goal was a foul. I didn’t see the image. We tried to be more brave when they had a man sent off,’ he added.