Cherries Battle Back to Bing the Toffees

Bournemouth is one of the more scenic destinations on England's south coast, and the renovated Vitality Stadium welcomed a number of Merseysiders make the trip for a good day's football.

Seems like Everton got as cozy as their contingent.

They they were, proud holders of a two-goal lead, and then the bottom dropped out.

The clash ended up 2-2 with both of the teams ending up with 10 men after Richarlison and Adam Smith were sent off.

 
In a poor first half, the better chances came from Bournemouth.

Callum Wilson could've opened the scoring in the 16th, but his effort went over the crossbar. Then, in the 41st, Brazilian striker Richarlison was sent off due to a clash of craniums with Smith.

Apparently, dude decided earlier he was taking no guff.

After the intermission, the Toffs started to find space, even playing with one man down.

A golden opening appeared in the 56th. Gylfi Sigurðsson brilliantly assisted Theo Walcott, who fired home past Asmir Begović:

Five minutes later, the feisty Smith was sent off, following a foul on Walcott.

Dude had been mixing it up all day, and it finally cost him.

 

Initially, at least, he wasn't missed.

Everton just kept on rolling, like in the 66th minute when, after a quick set-piece, Sigurdsson assisted Michael Keane who headed home from the far post.

 

He'd find out later -- the hard way -- that footballs are easier on the bean than skulls.

Bournemouth remembered whose ground this was in the 75th minute, gathered themselves, and fired back.

It started when Leighton Baines fouled Wilson inside of the box. Penalty. Josh King sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way, and the Cherries were on the board:

A mere four minutes later, Bournemouth equalized via Nathan Aké. After a corner, Wilson's header hit the post and at the rebound, Ake fired home. 2-2.

This come-from ahead draw may have been frustrating for Everton, but it felt worse than that.

That's because extra time found Toffee teammates Keane and Idrissa Gueye knocked noggins.

 

Keane suffered a hairline skull fracture and will be sidelined for up to a month.

Scary stuff to end a busy day out.