Everton rallies to beat West Brom 3-2 in Premier League
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) Romelu Lukaku scored two goals and set up another against his former club as Everton rallied from two goals down to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2 Monday in the Premier League.
Lukaku slotted in the winner in the 84th minute with his second attempt after a cross from Gerard Deulofeu to complete the second-half comeback and lift Everton to fifth in the standings.
Saido Berahino and Craig Dawson had put West Brom 2-0 up by the 54th minute, a lead that a Tony Pulis-managed team had never before allowed to turn into a loss in the Premier League. But Lukaku started the fightback almost immediately when he headed in another perfect cross from Deulofeu, who provided a constant threat down the right flank. Lukaku then turned provider with a perfectly weighted pass through the West Brom defense to set up Arouna Kone for the equalizer in the 75th.
The Belgium defender needed a bit of luck for the third goal as Deulofeu's bouncing cross came off his knee and then his hand before he was able to sidefoot it home at the near post.
Lukaku, who spent a breakthrough 2012-13 season on loan at West Brom from Chelsea before joining Everton, was given an ovation by both sets of fans as he was substituted in the final minutes.
It left Pulis lamenting an uncharacteristic defensive lapse by his team.
''All we had to do was sit tight and be nice and solid ... and unfortunately we give away a soft goal,'' Pulis said. ''It's really, really disappointing because we had the game in our hands.''
West Brom has just one point from four home games this season and is 15th in the table.
