LUTON, England (AP) — Luton got a valuable point in its fight to avoid relegation after a hard-fought 1-1 draw with visiting Everton in the English Premier League on Friday.
Will it be too little, too late?
Luton remained third to last, below 17th-placed Nottingham Forest only on goal difference. Luton has two games left. Everton has already guaranteed its survival.
Everton took the initiative when Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored from the penalty spot after 24 minutes.
A video review ruled Teden Mengi held Jarrad Branthwaite, and Calvert-Lewin notched his fourth goal in his last five appearances.
Luton bounced back quickly thanks to Elijan Adebayo. The striker scored five in five games before he was injured in February, and almost three months out did not seem to have affected his eye for goal. In his first start since returning, Adebayo collected his 10th goal of the season.
Luton substitute Andros Townsend saw his shot blocked on the line in the dying seconds as the home side pushed men forward in a desperate bid for a winner that could save its season.
“We threw everything at it,” Luton coach Rob Edwards told the BBC. “We were pushing until the end and that is us. We’ve been like that all season.
“We threw everything at it so I am disappointed right now,. But I can’t fault the players. The players gave it absolutely everything, so did the supporters.
“We’re still in the mix and the fight, we’ve got to keep believing.”
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
