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Upson own goal helps Everton rescue point vs. Leicester

Reuters

Liverpool - Leicester wasted a golden chance to boost their hopes of avoiding Premier League relegation as Matthew Upson's own goal allowed Everton to salvage a 2-2 draw on Sunday.

Nigel Pearson's side were on course for their first win in five league matches thanks to a stirring response to Steven Naismith's second half opener for Everton.

Taking advantage of two mistakes from Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, the Foxes equalized through David Nugent and then took the lead via a rare Esteban Cambiasso goal.

But former England defender Upson inadvertently denied his side a valuable victory when he dived to head a Christian Atsu cross clear but instead diverted Romelu Lukaku's flick into his own net in the final moments at Goodison Park.

The draw left Leicester bottom of the table and four points from safety, while Everton stay in 12th place after their third consecutive league game without a win.

After their impressive Europa League victory at Young Boys on Thursday, Everton were short of energy and inspiration for long periods.

Andrej Kramaric came close to punishing Everton for their lethargy when the Leicester striker curled his shot just over Howard's goal.

John Stones then put in a last-ditch block to deny Jeff Schlupp in first half stoppage-time as the visitors pressed for the opener.

Just two minutes after the break, Howard parried Matty James' shot and Schlupp dragged the follow-up wide.

But Everton went ahead in the 57th minute when Lukaku held the ball up and passed to Naismith, who squeezed his shot between Wes Morgan and Robert Huth as the ball trickled past Leicester goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Pearson made a double change, bringing Nugent and Jamie Vardy on, and just minutes later the pair combined to equalise.

Vardy pulled away down the right and drove a low cross goalwards which Howard spilled straight into the path of Nugent, who tapped in for the 63rd minute leveller.

Lukaku should have put Everton back in front when he barged through the Leicester defence, but the Belgian forward contrived to shoot over from 10 yards.

The hosts were punished immediately and Howard was at fault again.

The American flapped at a 70th minute cross and Vardy pulled the ball back to Argentine veteran Cambiasso, who drilled home from close-range.

Lukaku wasted another chance to score as the former Chelsea striker could only muster a weak shot after being played in by Naismith.

But Lukaku made a crucial impact to Everton's 89th minute equaliser when his diving header came off Upson and flew in to steal a point for Roberto Martinez's side.

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