Soule seals Roma win at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Everton face AS Roma in a pre-season friendly at Hill Dickinson Stadium with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall catching the eye.

Dewsbury-Hall shines as Everton slump to Roma in pre season clash

Everton played their first team friendly in front of fans at Hill Dickinson Stadium and fell 1-0 to AS Roma as Matias Soule struck the decisive goal. Vitalii Mykolenko was forced off after 10 minutes, with Adam Aznou coming on and immediately feeling the pressure as the visitors exploited the young substitute. Thierno Barry and Iliman Ndiaye created chances for Everton in the opening period but failed to convert. Jordan Pickford produced a string of important interventions as the home side pressed for a lead before the break.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, signed just days earlier, was Everton’s standout in the first half, showing intent and invention with his movements and link play. Idrissa Gueye and James Garner anchored the midfield, while Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski had to deal with a testing night at the back. The second half saw a flurry of changes as the focus shifted to squad depth and preparation for the new campaign, with the substitutes providing a mix of encouragement and unsettled balance for the hosts.

Dewsbury-Hall’s lively debut hints at a potentially sharper Everton midfield once the season starts. The early impact of a new arrival suggests a faster integration than some pre-season signs. Yet the night also exposed gaps, notably in wide areas and finishing, that the squad still needs to address before competitive fixtures begin. The injury to Mykolenko and Aznou’s difficult introduction underline the risks of a long pre-season schedule for a squad still in transition.

Overall the game underscored a simple truth: depth matters. Everton can take positives from a bright display in parts of midfield and attacking build up, but the balance across the team needs refinement. How the club handles the growing competition for starting places will shape its early form and mood through August.

Highlights

Pre-season is a proving ground. The signs are there, but the work is far from finished.