Match Summary

Despite rabid press rumours to the contrary, Wayne Rooney started this critical game up front for Everton alongside his old mate Franny Jeffers.  With Yobo and Nyarko injured, there were starting opportunities for Gary Naysmith and Li Tie, but Radzinski, Clarke and Osman were consigned to the bench.

Everton had an early chance, headed wide by Carsley after just 2 mins.  Mendieta was also not far away with an early header for Boro that drew a brilliant save from Nigel Martyn.

Everton then got a free-kick on the edge of the Boror penalty area, which Rooney took reasonably well, bending it nicely, but it flew a couple of feet over the bar.  Li Tie fluffed a good opportunity played back to him but the strike was weak.

Boro then turned it on a bit, Mendieta firing in a great shot from 20+ yards but Martyn was up to it, tipping it over with a great one-handed save.  Everton were playing miles better than against Bolton, with McFadden doing well to win a corner that Jeffers should really have done better with.  Jeffers was getting into good positions and having pops on goal, but unable to convert. 

Another good chance for Boro came just before half-time after Everton gave the ball away needlessly, but Martyn made a crucial interception to keep Everton in the game after a very lively half with both teams up for it.

Everton conceded a corner early on in the second half under pressure from Boro as the match resumed.  Jeffers got in a great glancing header after Rooney had played the ball out to Carsley for an excellent cross.  Hibbert played a lovely one-two, getting the ball back to Rooney, whose shot was turned behind for a corner.  Lively stuff indeed!

A bit of a silly fracas on the hour mark saw Li Tie booked after some handbag-waving from all 22 players following what looked like a foul on the Chinese star.  McFadden slipped in the area, with Everton fans screaming for a penalty...  is this one headed for extra time???

Another exciting break by Everton saw a great ball from Carsley in for Jeffers but it was critically deflected away for a throw-in.  Everton played extremely well in the second half, and really took the game to Boro, but getting that ball in the net was another matter altogether. 

Boro were stymied by some desperate defending from Everton in the last 10 minutes, with Maccarone ending a spell of fierce bombardment by missing from 4 yards out.  And so it went to extra time, despite a massive number of chances created by both sides.

Radzinski started to make a difference as soon as he replaced Rooney, creating another great chance for Jeffers but it bobbled up as he hit it and the ball flew over the bar.

Maccarone then dived nicely but the penalty was denied by the ref.  McFadden broke to the other end but the effort from Jeffers was blocked just as the ref blew for half-time in extra time.   Leon Osman came on just after the break as it seemed the game was inevitably headed for a penalty shoot-out.

Osman gave away a free-kick in a dangerous location and Mendieta's shot flew fractionally wide of Martyn's post.  Osman got a great chance for his first shot in on goal from a rebound but Schwarzer produced a fabulous one-handed save to deny the young goalhound.

Gravesen then wasted a free-kick, driving it into the wall as the game neared its fateful end.  He then gave away a free kick in the final minute, earning himself a yellow card in the process.  Maccarone thankfully sliced it wide, setting up the penalty shoot-out.

Osman, sadly, became the villain when Schwarzer stuck a leg out and blocked his fierce drive to save the third Everton spot-kick.  It would be the only penalty miss, with Martyn unable to stop any of Boro's... and that was that.  Another League Cup distraction over for another season.

2003-04 Match Reports Index