GRANIT XHAKA warmed up for his reunion with former club Arsenal this weekend as he netted his first Sunderland goal.
The Black Cats’ skipper struck moments into the second half, his drive through a crowded goalmouth deflecting off James Tarkowski to wrongfoot Jordan Pickford on his return to his roots.
It cancelled out Iliman Ndiaye’s 15th-minute stunner.
Ndiaye had scored Everton’s last goals at Goodison Park and their first at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Now he might just have scored their goal of the season too.
There certainly won’t be too many more spectacular solo efforts than his effort on Wearside.
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After Thierno Barry had dispossessed Noah Sadiki, Ndiaye took possession just inside the touchline, cut infield and weaved in and out of three tackles before curling a left-foot shot into the roof of the net.
Sunderland could have fallen behind within ten seconds of the first whistle.
James Garner met Barry’s knockdown with a 20-yard left-foot drive which fizzed inches wide with Robin Roefs scampering across his line.
When Ndiaye broke the deadlock, it was no more than Everton deserved for their bright start.
They could have stretched their lead in the 22nd minute when Jack Grealish shot through the legs of Xhaka, skimming the upright.
Sunderland had barely kicked a ball in anger in the opening skirmishes and were fortunate not to concede again when Grealish found Barry at the far post only for the wasteful Frenchman to fire wide from close range.
A dreadful miss which had David Moyes shaking his head in disgust.
It summed up the Black Cats’ no-show at this stage when Enzo Le Fee crossed into the area, Bertrand Traore swung at fresh air.
The crowd were at last given something to shout about on 36 minutes when Lutsharel Geertruida’s volley just cleared the bar.
It sparked a period of sustained home pressure, one almighty goalmouth scramble and several last-ditch blocks by an Everton defence superbly marshalled by Michael Keane.
Sunderland were level 40 seconds after the restart with Xhaka’s equaliser and almost went ahead a minute later.
Step forward Pickford who somehow adjusted his position to beat away Le Fee’s effort which had ricocheted off team-mate Wilson Isidor.
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Everton hearts were in mouths when VAR looked at a Keane handball, before deciding he could not get out of the way of Sadiki’s cross.
Sunderland continued to have the upper hand in the second half but for once there was no late, late goal to take maximum points.
