Thursday 7 August 2014 08:00, UK
A hat-trick from Nolito condemned Everton to a 3-1 defeat against Celta Vigo in a pre-season friendly played at Tranmere’s Prenton Park.
Roberto Martinez fielded a strong line-up for Everton’s penultimate pre-season game before the Premier League kicks off, with Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, Gareth Barry and Ross Barkley all starting on Wednesday night.
And the home side took an early lead after Steven Naismith miscontrolled a Baines cross only for Aiden McGeady to rifle the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
But the La Liga side equalised soon after when former Benfica striker Nolito instinctively side-footed home a cross from the right flank.
Just five minutes later Nolito robbed John Stones of the ball and ran at goal before dinking the ball over Howard.
And moments later, Nolito completed his 16-minute hat-trick when his long-range effort flew past Howard, aided by a deflection off Stones.
Everton new-boy Muhamed Besic made a late substitute appearance for the Toffees, who travel to Bundesliga side SC Paderborn this weekend still in search of their first victory in pre-season.
