Wayne Rooney scored a 30-yard scorcher on his Everton debut as the Toffees beat Kenyan side Gor Mahia 2-1 in their first pre-season game of their tour of Tanzania.
After spending 13 seasons with Manchester United, Rooney returned to his boyhood club on Sunday, signing a two-year contract with the Merseyside club and wasted no time at all in getting off the mark.
Collecting the some 10 yards from the Mahia box, Rooney swivelled and sent in a rocket of a shot with Boniface Oluoch sprawling but getting nowhere near the ball as Everton got the breakthrough 11 minutes before the interval.
Mahia, who play the Kenyan Premier League, were undeterred by the strike as they got level via a Meddie Kegere header as Everton were caught napping on a corner just before half-time.
Davy Klaassen and Michael Keane both made their debuts, but it was 19-year-old midfielder Kieran Dowell who stole the show as he drilled home a shot from the edge of the Mahia penalty box in the 82nd minute to ensure Ronald Koeman’s men got their pre-season off to a winning start.
Another bright point of the day was winger Aaron Lennon featuring in a football game after a lengthy absence due to a stress-related injury.
Everton next face Dutch side FC Twente at the SV De Lutte Stadium on July 19.