The task was to score two goals and get back into this tie. That's what Everton did, with a goal in each half, to even up the score on aggregate, and force extra time.
Cahill was surprisingly unavailable, having picked up a foot or hip injury (or both) that kept him off the roster for this crucial game. Moyes's key decision, though, was to sideline Hibbert in favour of Captain Neville at right back, with Carsley coming back in after suspension.
The first goal appeared to be a somewhat speculative cross from very wide left by Pienaar that evaded the Fiorentina defence and keeper on the near post, hit the turf and smacked Andy Johnson on the chin, and bounced across the line.... they all count!
For the second, Yakubu fed the ball deep top Arteta who was a long way out but he just let rip and it bounced beyond Frey, just inside the post. Goodison went berserk! Full time and 2-0 on the night; 2-2 on aggregate... Extra Time.
David Moyes saved his secret weapon, Victor Anichebe, for the last portion of Extra Time, but the much-needed third goal just would not come, and so to the inevitability of penalties, taken at the Park End:
Game over. No Uefa Cup gory for Everton this year. Everton slide unfortunately out of a competition many were convinced they could win this season. A great performance in which the Blues played them off the park, but when push comes to shove it's about putting the ball in the net and in the end the Blues were found wanting.
Michael Kenrick
Everton embark on Mission: Possible on Wednesday evening as Fiorentina come to Goodison Park with a 2-0 lead from the first leg of this Uefa Cup Round of 16 tie. Having let themselves down badly by not performing at all last week, the Blues will have to be at the very top of their game to see off the enterprising Italians and overturn a first-leg deficit in European history for the first time in their history.
Injuries mean that David Moyes won't be able to field his best line-up but Mikel Arteta's recovery from his long-standing groin and stomach issues and Lee Carsley's return from suspension will help his team-selection process.
Needing to win by three clear goals, Moyes will hopefully have learned from the Chelsea semi-final in January and will go with a 4-4-2 formation with Andy Johnson and Yakubu leading the line. With Leon Osman and Manuel Fernandes ruled out through injury, that would likely mean a midfield quartet of Arteta, Tim Cahill, Lee Carsley and Steven Pienaar, the latter having escaped serious injury against Sunderland at the weekend despite a dangerous tackle by Phil Bardsley.
At that back, Phil Neville switching to right back in place of Tony Hibbert will probably be the only change.
Fiorentina meanwhile are still without Adrian Mutu and also lost striker N'Diaye Papa Waigo at the weekend when he limped out of La Viola's 1-0 defeat to Siena.
The Blues clearly have a mountain to climb and not having an away goal may be the biggest obstacle of all to overcome. It means that they have to go out and look to score goals but can't be too gung-ho for fear of conceding at the other end.
But it's by no means an impossible task and a full Goodison, a vibrant start, and perhaps an early goal could really set the cat among the pigeons. There have been suggestions also from one contributor to our MailBag that Fiorentina are prone to caving in to pressure so if Moyes can put the emphasis on sustained attacks while keeing it tight at the back, then everything is to play for.
Penalties scenario: The only scoreline that would lead to penalties is 2-0 to Everton after 90 minutes and no further goals scored in extra time. An away goal for Fiorentina would mean that Everton would need to win 4-1, either after normal time or extra time.
Lyndon Lloyd
Everton entertain Fiorentina in their European tie and tonight’s team could obtain three firsts for the club, namely, the first team to beat Italian opposition in a European tie, the first team to score against Italian opposition in a European tie and the first to overcome a 2 goal deficit.
Everton's record in Europe:
P
W
D
L
F
A
European Cup
10
2
5
3
14
Cup Winners’ Cup
17
11
4
25
9
UEFA Cup
19
6
35
Fairs Cup
12
7
22
15
TOTALS:
58
31
13
96
53
Our home record in Europe:
1
8
0
16
28
57
20
One positive that can be taken from our home record in Europe is that Everton are currently averaging just over 2 goals per match. However, our previous history in Europe would suggest that Everton’s task is a lot harder.
Firstly, Everton are still to win a European match against Italian opposition. Our previous five encounters have seen two draws and three defeats, with no goals scored and four conceded.
Secondly, Everton have never overturned a 2-goal deficit in European competition. However, on the flip side Everton have a 100% record in three 2-leg matches were the first leg was lost by 2 or more goals. The only problem is that those victories were all by a single goal.
The first was in the 1965-66 Fairs Cup, when after losing 0:3 in Hungary, Everton beat Ujpest Dozsa 2:1 at Goodison Park in the return with the Everton goals coming from Brian Harris and an Erno Nosko own goal.
Then next occasion was the following season in the 1966-67 Cup Winners’ Cup when Everton lost 0:2 at Real Zaragoza, but won the return leg 1:0 with the goal coming from Sandy Brown.
Finally, there was the UEFA Cup tie in 2005-06, when Everton lost 1:5 against Dinamo Bucharest, after Joseph Yobo had given Everton the lead. This was followed by a 1:0 victory at Goodison Park with Everton’s goal that night coming from Tim Cahill.
This will be Everton’s 18th match on 12 March:
Division One
FA Cup
League Cup
18
The last match on this date was a 1:0 victory over Newcastle United in the Quarter finals of the FA Cup in 1995, when Everton went on to win their last trophy. The goal, that day, was scored by Dave Watson.
Out of the five home matches on this day, Everton have won 4 and lost the other one (a 0:1 defeat against Sheffield United in 1913).
The only time Everton have scored more than 2 goals on this day was back in 1960, when they beat Chelsea 6:1 at Goodison Park in the old Division One, with goals from Mickey Lill, Bobby Collins, Jimmy Harris, Roy Vernon and a Tommy Ring brace.
Milestones that can be reached this game:
Steve Flanagan
May appear here later
Author
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