James Tarkowski scored deep into stoppage time to earn Everton a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, spoiling what looked set to be a first Premier League victory for the Cherries under new head coach Marco Rose.
Alex Scott had given the hosts the lead just before half-time at the Vitality Stadium, capping an impressive individual display, only for Tarkowski to pounce in the 91st minute after a mix-up between Bournemouth's Ryan Christie and Marcus Tavernier at a corner.
The result arrived on an eventful day for Bournemouth, who had been drawn against AC Milan in the Europa League and unveiled "Welcome Marco" banners around the stadium ahead of kick-off as Rose took charge on home soil for the first time. Despite the setback, the club's unbeaten home league record, stretching back to January, remains intact.
Everton made one change from their previous league win over Crystal Palace, with James Garner replacing Hayden Hackney, while Harrison Armstrong started amid reports of a £40million bid from Nottingham Forest. Bournemouth were unchanged from their loss at Manchester City.
The visitors began brightly, registering eight shots inside the opening half hour. Jarrad Branthwaite's glancing header from a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall corner was tipped wide by goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic inside the first ten minutes, and David Moyes' side continued to press without finding a breakthrough.
Bournemouth grew into the contest as Rayan caused problems down the right, with Vitaliy Mykolenko struggling to contain the Brazilian's runs. The pressure told four minutes before the break when Evanilson escaped down that flank and squared for Scott, who created space just inside the box before finishing into the bottom corner via a deflection off Mykolenko.
Thierno Barry, who had scored a hat-trick in midweek against Preston in the Carabao Cup, twice went close to levelling before half-time, first firing into the side-netting on the counter and then being denied by another smart save from Petrovic early in the second half after being played through by Armstrong.
Everton also had penalty appeals turned down when Dewsbury-Hall went down under a challenge from James Hill, but referee waved play on.
Bournemouth should have wrapped up the points with 11 minutes remaining. Jordan Pickford produced a fine diving save to keep out Rayan, and with the goal at his mercy, Evanilson's follow-up was somehow blocked by substitute Hackney on the line. Evanilson then headed the resulting corner wide, while Scott saw a later curling effort acrobatically cleared by Mykolenko.
With three points seemingly secured, Bournemouth's discipline at a corner proved costly. Tavernier and Christie collided attempting to deal with a delivery from Hackney, leaving Tarkowski unmarked to drill the ball beyond Petrovic and snatch a point for the Toffees.
"It's not even a set-piece goal, it was just slapstick," Rose said of the equaliser, reflecting on a missed opportunity to open his tenure with a win. He added that Bournemouth "could have scored a second goal two, three or four times," and acknowledged he still needs to adjust to the demands of the Premier League, calling it "quite different" and "always an open game."
Rose also praised Scott's display, describing it as "a top performance," with the 41st-minute goal reinforcing his growing importance to the side.
For Everton, the draw arrived against a backdrop of uncertainty off the pitch, with speculation over Armstrong's future continuing to swirl. Moyes declined to be drawn deeply on the transfer talk, saying any decision "would be a club decision" while adding, "I don't really want to talk about it."
Both sides will regroup knowing the point does little to settle the questions hanging over their respective campaigns, though Everton will take heart from another late rescue act, while Bournemouth must address their habit of conceding costly goals in the closing stages.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football and The Independent.