by James Nalton at Goodison Park

AROUNA KONE’s hat-trick was the highlight of yesterday’s entertaining goal-filled afternoon at Goodison Park, where Everton defeated Sunderland by six goals to two.

The opening moments of the game were an indication of things to come, as opportunistic attacking play was mixed with questionable defending by both sides.

Sunderland’s Patrick van Aanholt had plenty of joy at left wing-back in Sam Allardyce’s 3-5-2 formation and two bursts forward from him led to early chances for the visitors who hit the post twice.

These early scares stirred Everton, and it wasn’t long before they were turning their attacking opportunities into goals.

Kone played a pinpoint ball through to Gerard Deulofeu, who feigned to shoot with his right foot before slotting the ball under Costel Pantilimon with his left.

It was Kone who doubled Everton’s lead following a one-two with Romelu Lukaku which left the Black Cats’ defence chasing shadows. The Ivorian took the return ball and powered it left-footed past Pantilimon.

Sunderland’s strikers were isolated at times, which meant Jermaine Defoe had it all to do when he received Sebastian Coates’s long pass just before half-time. However, the English striker did well to beat Ramiro Funes Mori, before his right-foot shot deflected off John Stones on its way into the net.

The away side equalised five minutes into the second half when Van Aanholt, who’d been impressive in attack, found Steven Fletcher who headed back across goal into the far corner.

This only served to liven the home side again and they soon had Goodison buzzing as fans watched their side score three goals in 10 minutes.

They regained the lead when Deulofeu’s dangerous cross was turned in for an own goal by Coates. Then, a perfect through ball from the Spaniard sent Lukaku free to round the keeper before slotting home. Right-winger Deulofeu was involved again as he set up Kone to score a goal which was almost identical to his first.

The rout was completed with 15 minutes to go when Lukaku’s cross with the outside of his left boot found Kone, who sealed his hat-trick with a close-range header.