Saha scores 4 goals as Everton beats Blackpool 5-3

Saha scores 4 goals as Everton beats Blackpool 5-3

Published Feb. 5, 2011 5:46 p.m. ET

Louis Saha scored four times Saturday to lead Everton to a 5-3 win over Blackpool in the Premier League, taking his tally to eight goals in his past six games.

Blackpool had come from 2-1 down to lead 3-2 at Goodison Park before Saha's third goal leveled the match. He struck again in the 84th minute, four minutes after teammate Jermaine Beckford had given the hosts the lead with a superb volley.

Saha also scored twice in the first half - either side of a goal from Alex Baptiste for Blackpool - but Jason Puncheon and Charlie Adam then found the net for the visitors to take the lead.

Everton rose two places to 13th place, six points above the relegation places. While Blackpool was beaten for the seventh time in eight matches, dropping to 15th and only four points above the drop zone.

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Saha opened the scoring in the 20th minute after being picked out by Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's pass from inside the area, sweeping the ball home from seven yards.

Baptiste equalized from a corner by captain Charlie Adam in the 37th minute, Ian Evatt striking the frame and the ball almost bouncing over the line with Baptiste following up to make sure.

Within two minutes of the restart, Saha finished off a slick move to restore the one-goal lead for Everton. Jack Rodwell fed Leighton Baines down the left, and he found Saha with a perfect ball into the area which was turned in at the near post with a first-time shot.

Everton paid for several misses when Blackpool hit two goals in the space of three minutes.

The second equalizer came in the 61st minute after Heitinga lost the ball 30 yards out to Elliot Grandin, who passed to former Everton striker James Beattie down the left and he cut inside to cross for Puncheon to sidefoot home.

Before Everton had time to recover, Blackpool broke from deep to set up DJ Campbell on the edge of the area. Campbell's shot was tipped onto the bar, but Adam followed up to dive forward and head home the rebound.

Everton was level 14 minutes from time when Saha completed his hat trick from a corner, heading home from close range after a flick-on from Sylvain Distin.

In the 80th, Beckford raced onto another superb cross from Baines and hit a left-footed volley past the goalkeeper. Four minutes later, Saha beat Adam in a race to goal and slid in his fourth of the match.

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