Blackpool 3-3 Everton: Gylfi Sigurdsson's late free-kick denies Seasiders impressive win against Premier League opposition

The Seasiders looked on course to spring a surprise against Carlo Ancelotti’s men after making a quickfire start, scoring three eye-catching goals in the opening 10 minutes.

Just two minutes were on the clock when CJ Hamilton broke the deadlock before Sullay Kaikai and Grant Ward both got in on the act.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulled one back for the Toffees before Sigurdsson reduced the deficit further with a calmly-taken penalty.

The Icelandic international had the final say when he curled home a trademark set-piece to save his side’s blushes.

But Neil Critchley’s men, who are still unbeaten in pre-season, can be delighted with their afternoon’s work after producing a magnificent display from start to finish.

With next week’s season opener at Stoke City in the Carabao Cup in mind, Critchley named a strong side.

Joe Nuttall missed out for the second pre-season game running having undergone a scan earlier in the week on a knee injury he suffered in the 2-1 win at Port Vale.

Ben Garrity, who it’s understood is heading out on loan, was also missing as was Jamie Devitt, who continues to be linked with a move away.

A trialist left-back, thought to be Sunderland target Demetri Mitchell, was named among the substitutes while goalkeeper Alex Fojticek, who continues to train with the Seasiders, was not included.

Despite only just returning to pre-season training, Ancelotti named a strong Everton side packed full of internationals.

England number one Jordan Pickford started in goal, with the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Moise Kean, Alex Iwobi and Dominic Calvert-Lewin also handed starts.

Former Blackpool loanee Seamus Coleman, who helped the Seasiders reach the Premier League in 2010, was named among the substitutes alongside Michael Keane, Theo Waltcott, Yannic Bolasie and others.

The Seasiders made a lightning quick start to proceedings, surprising their Premier League opponents with a goal inside the opening two minutes.

After Grant Ward’s early corner had been cleared, Keshi Anderson kept hold of the ball before threading through a lovely pass into CJ Hamilton, who beat Pickford all ends up with an emphatic finish into the far corner.

Hamilton looked to return the favour to Anderson a few moments later as the Seasiders maintained their fast start, but his pullback was cleared at the vital moment.

If the Toffees had been surprised by Blackpool’s fast start, they were left utterly shell-shocked when Critchley’s men added a further two in quick succession.

Ancelotti’s side left far too much space in behind their backline, which handed Jerry Yates the chance to slip in Sullay Kaikai down the left.

The winger had time to take a touch before picking his spot but he didn’t need to, the 24-year-old emphatically beating Pickford with a curling effort into the far corner.

Barely 60 seconds later, Pickford was picking the ball out of his net for the third time in just 11 minutes when Grant Ward added a third.

Everton were caught dawdling on the ball far too close to their own goal and Blackpool’s high pressing paid dividends, with the ball rolling to Ward on the edge of the box and the midfielder making no mistake with his powerful drive.

The visitors threatened for the first time on 18 minutes when Jonjoe Kenny, who spent the season on loan with Schalke last term, curled in an inviting cross that just eluded Kean.

With a comfortable three-goal cushion under their belts, Blackpool had the luxury of being able to sit back and defend their lead.

This did, however, lead to Everton enjoying more and more of the ball and the pressure eventually told on 23 minutes when they pulled a goal back.

It was a fairly rudimentary goal, too, as striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin did well to rise highest to meet Gylfi Sigurdsson’s corner and head home.

Pool, however, ought to have restored their three-goal lead a moment later when Hamilton was set free down the right once again.

The rapid winger bore down on goal only for an Everton defender to get a vital touch in at the last moment just as Hamilton was preparing to pull the trigger.

Blackpool looked like scoring every time they ventured forward and that’s almost what happened when Everton failed to clear their lines from a corner, the ball falling kindly at the feet of Hamilton whose low piledriver was straight at Pickford.

Everton were more than fortunate to reduce the deficit even further on the half-hour mark when they were awarded a fairly soft-looking penalty.

Marvin Ekpiteta was the man penalised for a foul on Calvert-Lewin and Sigurdsson made no mistake with the resulting spot kick, calmly sending it down the middle.

Hamilton, involved in the thick of the action once again, went close to adding a fourth as he steered a powerful effort just wide after a quick give-and-go with Yates.

On the stroke of half time, Everton almost dragged themselves level when Kean fizzed a dangerous ball across the face of the six-yard box, but no teammate was there to tap home.

The trialist left-back came on at the break for Michael Nottingham, while Matty Virtue replaced Grant Ward.

Meanwhile, Jonas Lossl, Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane and Theo Walcott all came on for Everton.

The Seasiders were given a big let-off 12 minutes into the second half when former Arsenal man Walcott whistled a low shot agonisingly wide of the far post when he really ought to have scored.

At the other end Yates, who enjoyed a strong first half with his unselfish play, could only head over from Virtue’s centre.

Everton made a further four changes midway through the second half, which stunted the flow of the game.

The Toffees continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession but Blackpool were marshalling them well and kept things pretty tight at the back.

That was until the 72nd minute, when Ancelotti’s men finally drew themselves level.

What a goal it was too, Sigurdsson curling home a sublime 20-yard free-kick after Walcott had been brought down by Mitchell.

Both sides exchanged good chances to take the lead, Yannick Bolasie seeing a powerful effort palmed away by Chris Maxwell before Matty Virtue was denied at the other end.

The game eventually petered out but Pool, who more than matched their Premier League opponents, now turning their focus to Tuesday night’s friendly against Blackburn Rovers.

TEAMS

Blackpool: Maxwell, Turton (Howe), Nottingham (Trialist), Ekpiteta, Husband (Thorniley), Robson (Antwi), Ward (Virtue), Anderson (Sarkic), Kaikai (Feeney), Hamilton (Shaw), Yates (Madine)

Subs not used: Sims

Everton: Pickford (Lossl), Kenny (Coleman), Branthwaite (Keane), Holgate (Nkounkou), Digne (Gibson), Gordon (Besic), Davies, Sigurdsson (John), Iwobi (Bolasie), Kean (Walcott), Calvert-Lewin (Simms)

Subs not used: Virginia, Tryer