Tim Cahill for Everton vs River Plate
Matias Abelairas nipped in behind him and before Nash had chance to gather his thoughts the midfielder had turned the ball towards goal.
Fortunately for Everton, it hit the woodwork rather than the back of the net.
You might get the impression from what you have just read that Everton were out of their depth and/or in bad shape, but it must be stressed at this juncture that the opposite is in fact true.
Had you been privy to any of the training sessions that took place all week in Seattle, you would have seen a group of footballers being brought gradually to their peak but, all the while, pleasing their manager with everything they did.
That was definitely not the case 12 months ago; Moyes fumed after the opening 2-0 defeat against Chicago Fire about the poor state of his squad, while the 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids in Denver was memorable only for a terrific Mikel Arteta goal.
Fast forward to the present and the difference in the quality they are producing is like night and day; the passing is sharp, the fitness is excellent and with another four friendlies to play before Arsenal arrive at Goodison Park on August 15, improvement is guaranteed.
To prove the point that their condition is first class for this stage of affairs, Everton actually finished the match the stronger, even though the climate was most definitely Latin and River Plate had been training in Edmonton for a couple of days beforehand.
What’s more, they should have been awarded a penalty in the 85th minute when James Vaughan – on for Jo – was bundled over as he attempted to get on the end of a Tony Hibbert cross.
As someone who never accepts defeat in any circumstances, it was no surprise to see Moyes leap from his seat to give the fourth official an ear full and his anger was easy to understand as it would have been given back home.
But no matter. This, after all, was just one act in the phoney war and the decisive moment was produced by one of the finest South American footballers of the last generation.
Rest assured, then, that this result is nothing to worry about.
