LIVERPOOL, England (AP) ― Everton was held to a 2-2 draw by Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday after having a goal disallowed despite the ball appearing to cross the line before being cleared.
The score was 1-1 when Everton forward Victor Anichebe’s header hit the underside of the crossbar and the ball seemingly dropped over the line before defender Mike Williamson kicked it away in the 78th minute.
“It’s a difficult call, but if you’re a linesman on the goal line you would hope you would see if the ball goes over the line ― that’s your job,” Everton manager David Moyes said.
Anichebe looked to have rendered the decision meaningless when he made it 2-1 in the 88th, but second-half Newcastle replacement Demba Ba scored the second of his two goals less than 2 minutes later.
“It was good to get a draw because it was difficult,” Ba said.
“Last season here it was very difficult, and tonight the first half was the same. But the second half was very different.”
Ba scored in the 49th to cancel out Everton defender Leighton Baines’ 15th-minute opener.
Spain
A late error by Valladolid goalkeeper Jaime Jimenez gave Real Betis a 1-0 road victory in the Spanish league Monday.
Jimenez let an easy ball slip from his grasp in the 89th minute, allowing Betis striker Ruben Castro to take advantage for the late winner.
It was Betis’ first match in three weeks because of the international break, plus its game against Atletico Madrid being rescheduled because of the European Super Cup.
Valladolid endured a second straight loss after starting the season with two solid victories.
