New Delhi: A thrilling game at Villa Park saw goals galore and a point shared after Villa came from behind to hold the Toffees.
Aston Villa welcomed Everton to Villa Park hoping to end a dismal run that had seen them go nine games without a win.
Yet David Moyes’ men arrived knowing that win would not only deepen Villa’s misery but leapfrog them above Martin O’Neill’s team and into fifth place in the Premier League.
Certainly the home side began the game confidently enough but it didn’t take long for Everton to send them a warning of their intent.
With only 15 minutes on the clock skipper Phil Neville almost opened the scoring with a fizzing effort.
Villa failed to fully clear a corner and the ball fell kindly to the midfielder who fired a strong shot on the half-volley, forcing Friedel to tip the ball over his bar.
Yet minutes later the Villa ‘keeper was to be left helpless as Everton did find the back of the net.
Some lovely interplay down the left between Leighton Baines and Jo saw the defender slip an inviting ball across goal for Marouane Fellaini to tap home at the far post.
The goal filled the visitors with confidence and they poured forward searching for their second of the afternoon.
Steven Pienaar almost supplied it, cutting inside from the left wing and beating Luke Young but he was unable to beat Friedel with a low shot that flew inches wide.
Villa were rocking and Tim Cahill was the next to try his luck. The Australian international picked up a pass from Jo before shooting low but Friedel managed to turn the ball around his near post.
Yet the visitors were not to be denied for long and mid-way through the first half they did extend their lead.
A corner in from the left was headed onto the bar by Cahill, the ball rebounding kindly to the Everton man who headed home at the second time of asking.
Two goals down with less than half an hour gone and things were looking grim for the home side but 10 minutes later they had hauled themselves right back into contention.
A cross in from the right by James Milner was not dealt with by Tim Howard and after a scramble in the box John Carew turned the ball in from five yards to restore hope all around Villa Park.
Moments later and Villa could have been level. Another cross into the box caused panic in goalkeeper Tim Howard who dropped the initial ball before grabbing at the second attempt under pressure from Milner.
The momentum was with the home side either side of the break but less than 10 minutes into the second half Everton hit back.
Pienaar on the edge of the box, received the ball with his back to goal and promptly cut inside before unleashing a wonderful, curling shot that flew past a stationary Friedel and into the back of the net.
Yet Villa’s response was instant as the home side roared forwards and won a free-kick some 30 yards from goal.
Up stepped Milner who thumped a splendid shot around the wall and past a helpless Howard to make it 3-2.
O’Neill’s men sensed another goal and sure enough it duly arrived after Joleon Lescott was penalised for a high foot on Stiliyan Petrov in the box.
Referee Howard Web pointed straight to the spot and up stepped Gareth Barry who showed no fear, smashing his penalty home for the equaliser.
Back on level terms Villa went in search of the winner and went close through Ashley Young, Zat Knight and Nathan Delfouneso but they couldn’t quite find another goal and a fantastic game, instead, ended all square.
Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Davies, Knight, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor (Delfouneso, 54), Carew.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert (Jacobsen, 65), Lescott, Jagielka, Baines, Osman, Neville, Cahill, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jo (Saha, 81).
GOALS
3-3 Aston Villa (Barry, pen. 66)
2-3 Aston Villa (Milner, 55)
1-3 Everton (Pienaar, 54)
1-2 Aston Villa (Carew, 32)
0-2 Everton (Cahill, 23)
0-1 Everton (Fellaini, 19)
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