Two-goal Sigurdsson turns from villain to hero for Everton

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:28 am

Gylfi Sigurdsson of Everton celebrates scoring his side's third goal.
Gylfi Sigurdsson of Everton celebrates scoring his side's third goal.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Gylfi Sigurdsson went from villain into hero as he struck twice to inspire Everton to their customary home win, 3-0, against Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Icelander curled a superb 56th-minute effort four minutes after he had smashed a penalty against the bar following the award of a dubious spot kick for Denis Odoi's innocuous shove on Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Sigurdsson, who had never before missed a penalty in the Premier League, quickly made amends before substitute Cenk Tosun, an effective replacement for Calvert-Lewin, headed home Theo Walcott's 66th-minute cross at the far post.

Following Everton's poor first-half performance with Ryan Sessegnon coming closest to breaking the deadlock for Fulham when he hit the bar, Sigurdsson side-footed the Toffees' third goal in the 89th minute, ensuring the Cottagers did not get a sniff of their first-ever league win at Goodison.