Pre-Season Friendly sees a late Everton win in Hamburg

01/08/2026

Hamburg 1 - 2 Everton

Everton are in Germany to take on SV Hamburg at the Volksparkstadion on Saturday afternoon in their fourth pre-season friendly, kicking off at 5 pm CEST (4 pm BST).

The game is part of a double-header with the women's teams playing each other in the early afternoon, the Everton Women storming to a 1-0 victory over HSV Frauen.

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That leaves David Moyes with a tight-knit (aka 'threadbare') squad to face the Bundesliga giants on their turf. And he picks what might be his strongest side, with Jarrad Branthwaite returning to the starting line-up while Keane, Dibling, Alcaraz and others are benched. McNeil is out with a knock.

And Moyes takes no chances, with an unprecedented three goalkeepers on the bench!

First Half

Everton kicked off and got into some exciting head-tennis upfield. Hamburg got into the mood, moving the ball around with pace. Tarkowski's long ball over the top to Rohl won Everton a corner. A good delivery from Dewsbury-Hall, he followed it with a decent cross to O'Brien who could only head it to the Hamburg keeper.

Travers had to save a shot after a long stoppage which saw an early change for the home side. Lemke led another Hamburg drive forward, his attempt blocked. A second and third quick movement by the home side directly through the middle came to nothing.

Everton tried to play out and were lucky to recover the ball after losing it but the Everton attack was as usual far too slow. Hackney tried to dribble and was fouled. Hamburg almost set up a chance but Iroegbunam broke it up.

Everton tried to build but Hackney was double-teamed. At least this match was a step up in terms of competitiveness. Barry got wide but couldn't find a white shirt with his low cross. Hackney looked to create a half-chance inside the box but it was thwarted.

Hackney was dispossessed, and Gronbaek had a shot wide. Stange was allowed to run through by O'Brien, shooting across Travers and wide as Hamburg had a spell of dominance.

Hackney fouled Stange, whose free-kick was shanked behind by Dewsbury-Hall for a Hamburg corner. A great delivery was punched away by Travers. Dewsbury-Hall held off a German and played a nice ball forward for George but he had strayed ahead of the back line.

Hackney skipped nicely past two defenders but kicked his pass into the legs of a third. Rohl was caught, Dewsbury-Hall swinging in a looping cross that lacked power.

After strong work by Dewsbury-Hall, Barry drove forward and somehow beat his man before flicking it back for Merlin Rohl (41') who took great pleasure in striking it hard past the keeper to open the scoring.

Hamburg were a bit miffed but Everton kept up the pace, Barry forcing a corner. The workaround saw George trying to create some magic, eventually with a low cross that was cleared.

Some excellent link-up play won another Everton corner, George hammering in a low shot that was deflected behind. Iroegbunam was shown a yellow card a bit unfairly for impeding a breakaway. Everton went in ahead at the break after 5 added minutes.

Second Half

Hamburg were up the field quickly and Travers had to paw away a powerful shot that was straight at him. A free-kick led to Lemke forcing the ball through to Daka who spun and fired just wide.

From a poor goal kick by O'Brien, Hamburg fed Daka again who spun around in front of Travers and slotted home.

Everton got a corner that was punched clear but it fell for Branthwaite to juggle and then scoop over when it looked easier to score. Rohl's shot was then deflected onto the bar but Hamburg cleared the ensuing corner and built another attack.

Rohl had a ground shot that was saved. Great work by Rohl brought the ball forward and George who tried one of his textbook top corner curlers that flew well wide.

A defensive header back to Travers by O'Brien was almost intercepted by Daka.

A ball forward from Tarkowski seemed to be falling for Barry but he nudged it away from himself and harmlessly behind, but it had been a decent 15 minutes of football since the break, Moyes spurning the standard hour-mark changes.

Iroegbunam was s bit fortunate not to get a second yellow for a lazy foot stuck out to try and halt a Hamburger. Tarkowski made a terrible error in midfied, Hamburg were quick in the transition but Tarkowski was foolish enough to feel he should make amends: yellow card. The wall did its job to stop the free-kick reaching Travers in the Everton goal.

Moyes had only been keeping his powder dry, however, and made switches during the hydration break.

Dewsbury-Hall put in a fantastic low cross that Barry should have done everything to get onto but he just watched it roll across in front of him.

Barry got another chance after he almost lost another Tarkowski ball over the top. He turned and shot but the keeper saved it well. Barry played in Alcaraz, but two defenders threw themselves in front of him to block the shot behind. It was a good delivery but went right through.

Rohl drove down the right but his cross was disappointing. Barry almost got free but he was offside before more late changes from Moyes.

Hamburg kept coming forward, winning a corner that was cleared. Everton countered and Aznou fought hard to win an Everton corner, Tarkowski called by the ref, who decided on 8 minutes of added time.

Graham, on on added time, stole a loose ball and put in a rapid cross ahead of Beto and the defender tried to clear but he sliced it into his own net to give Everton a late lead.

Alcaraz tried to lob the keeper from distance but it was over the bar. Graham played in Dibling who beat one man but he hesitated a fraction and his shot was blocked.

Everton ended the game well and had done a lot better than in the earlier games.

Everton: Travers (82' King), Rohl, Mykolenko (82' Aznou), Tarkowski [Y:66'], O'Brien, Branthwaite (70' Keane), Iroegbunam [Y:45+2'] (69' Dibling), Hackney (70' Armstrong), Dewsbury-Hall (90+2' Graham), George (69' Alcaraz), Barry (82' Beto).

Subs: G Pickford, Lukjanciks, Patterson, Campbell, Foster.

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