Everton’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon was a bitter pill to swallow for Sean Dyche’s side. However, one moment that will haunt the Toffees’ striker Beto for a while is his glaring miss in the first half.
The Portuguese forward had a golden opportunity to put his side ahead in the 25th minute, but his left-footed effort was badly mishit, sailing into the stands. It was a moment that summed up Beto’s lacklustre display against the Red Devils.
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman, who was providing analysis on the Premier League World feed, was scathing in his assessment of Beto’s effort. “Beto could’ve played it in but he chose to go for goal himself. A dreadful effort for him,” Osman said.
However, Osman’s criticism may be a tad harsh, as Beto’s missed opportunity can be attributed to a lack of match fitness rather than a lack of skill or poor decision-making. The 26-year-old has been struggling to find his rhythm this season, and his attempt to score, however awkward, highlights the rustiness that comes with limited game time.
“Beto needs regular minutes to regain his match sharpness,” Osman added. “He’s got the technical ability and finishing to be a top-class striker, but he needs to get his confidence back. He’s still got a chance to make an impact in the second half, and I’m sure he’ll be looking to make amends for that missed opportunity.”
Everton boss Sean Dyche will be disappointed with his side’s lack of cutting edge in the final third, but he will be encouraged by Beto’s willingness to have a go. The Portuguese striker’s positioning to receive the ball in a scoring position is also a positive sign, as it shows that his instincts and game awareness are intact.
“Beto’s got a lot of quality, and he’s a player that can make a difference for us,” Dyche said in his post-match press conference. “He’s still getting up to speed, but I’m confident that he’ll come good for us. We just need to keep creating chances for him, and I’m sure he’ll start to find the back of the net.”
As the second half got underway, Beto will have been looking to redeem himself and make a telling contribution to the match. However, it was not to be, as Manchester United’s defense held firm to secure a 1-0 victory.
Despite the defeat, Everton can take heart from their performance, which showed glimpses of promise. With Beto leading the line, the Toffees will be looking to exploit the defensive vulnerabilities of their upcoming opponents and get their season back on track.
As for Beto, he will be looking to put his missed opportunity against Manchester United behind him and focus on making a positive impact in Everton’s upcoming matches. With his technical ability and finishing, he has the potential to be a top-class striker. Now, he just needs to find his rhythm and start scoring goals.
