with Crystal Palace, who moved into the Premier League's
top six after an enthralling finale at Goodison Park.
Alan Pardew's side came into Monday's game fresh from a
5-1 drubbing of Newcastle United last time out and took all
three points from their last trip to Merseyside – a 2-1 win
over Liverpool on November 8.
Despite being second-best for long periods, the London
club took the lead 14 minutes from time.
Scott Dann – scorer of the winning goal in the victory at
Anfield – headed in a Jason Puncheon corner to seemingly
put Palace on course for three points.
But, after Everton had hit the woodwork for the third time
through Lukaku, the Belgian pegged the visitors back in the
81st minute.
Lukaku turned in Gerard Deulofeu's right-wing cross to net
his 50th goal for Everton on his 100th appearance for the
club to seal a result that sends Palace up to sixth and
Roberto Martinez's men up to ninth.
Palace made the brighter start to proceedings and were
almost rewarded for their early dominance in the 15th
minute, but Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard was equal to
Connor Wickham's header from Yannick Bolasie's near-post
cross.
Lukaku then went agonisingly close to punishing Palace's
profligacy at the other end, the Belgium striker turning into
space just outside of the 18-yard box only to see his low
effort cannon off the inside of the left-hand post.
By that point Palace's command of the contest had begun to
slip away and Pardew's men required some last-ditch
defending to preserve parity as Everton cranked up the
pressure.
Everton remained in the ascendancy after the break but
continued to spurn opportunities, Ross Barkley nodding
Arouna Kone's right-wing cross wide nine minutes after the
restart.
For all their superiority, Everton were fortunate not to be
caught cold by Bolasie, who was allowed to surge into the
box from inside his own half and arrow a low shot towards
goal that Howard kept out with his legs.
Palace were again saved by the woodwork on the hour mark
as Barkley's free-kick from the left was headed onto the
inside of his own crossbar by Wickham, who was grateful to
see the ball bounce down without crossing the line.
Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey frustrated Everton by
brilliantly turning a fierce Tom Cleverley volley over, before
Howard denied Puncheon with an excellent stop of his own.
Dann looked to have won it as he rose highest from the
subsequent corner to power home and Palace's luck
certainly seemed to be in when Lukaku's thunderous volley
clattered the bar.
Yet Everton finally found the goal their play deserved as the
former Chelsea man popped up to level from point-blank
range for his ninth goal in as many league games, with
Jordon Mutch going close in stoppage time for Palace in a
thrilling finish.
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