Match Report

Everton dragged themselves into the last eight of the FA Cup with a gutsy if defensively suspect display in a back-and-forth, goal-laden tie against Spurs at Goodison Park thanks to a dramatic extra-time winner.

The Blues recovered from an awful start that saw them concede with less than four minutes on the clock to lead 3-1 heading into half-time but then let the visitors in in the third minute of first-half stoppage time to halve the lead.

Jose Mourinho's men pulled it level at 3-3, equalised again to make it 4-4 seven minutes from the end of the 90 to force extra time but were undone by a brilliant winner fashioned by Gylfi Sigurdsson and finished with aplomb by Bernard.

With James Rodriguez ruled out with a calf injury, Sigurdsson came into the side and Alex Iwobi started wide on the right while Yerry Mina replaced Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey switched to right back.

However, it was Spurs who came out of the traps with more purpose and within a minute of the first whistle they had forced the first of quite a few saves demanded of Robin Olsen who was once again in goal with Jordan Pickford still nursing a rib injury.

The Swede dived to his right to palm aside a header from Eric Lamela off a Steven Bergwijn cross but he was left helpless three minutes later as Everton's zonal marking system utterly failed and Davinson Sanchez was allowed to rise unchallenged and nod home a corner from the Tottenham left.

Godfrey forced the first save of the evening from Hugo Lloris with a low drive from distance and the French keeper tipped a Dominic Calvert-Lewin effort onto the post as the home side started to find their attacking belief but it was Olsen who was kept the busier, parrying a powerful shot from Son Hueng-Min over his crossbar and then stopping Lamela's effort from distance after Mina had given the ball away with a poor header.

Another Son shot was deflected into Bergwijn's path but Olsen got behind it again while the South Korean's next drive took a heavy deflection off Michael Keane and looped narrowly over the crossbar as Spurs continued to look the more dangerous team.

However, after Mina headed a corner wide 10 minutes before the half-time break, Everton sparked a burst of three goals in seven minutes when Dominic Calvert-Lewin hammered in his 18th of the season and 50th for the Toffees via Lloris's gloves.

A quick interchange between Iwobi and Sigurdsson on the right flank ended with the Iceland international knocking the ball into Calvert-Lewin's path and he connected beautifully as it sat up perfectly, rifling a shot that Lloris couldn't keep out to make it 1-1.

Two minutes later, Digne's headed lay-off from Sanchez's awkward header was heel-flicked neatly to Richarlison by Calvert-Lewin and the Brazilian, finally looking like his usual self, took a touch to his right before drilling through a defender's legs and into the bottom corner from 20 yards to make it 2-1.

Five minutes after that, when Hojbjerg accidentally clipped Calvert-Lewin's heels as the striker went to collect a pass inside from the left flank, referee David Coote had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and after a check by Video Assistant Referee, Chris Kavanagh, Sigurdsson stepped up to coolly roll home the resulting penalty.

That should have seen the Toffees into the interval with a two-goal cushion but an awful lapse in concentration from Mina allowed the ball to slip by him in the box and Lamela was on hand to clip it past Olsen deep into injury time.

Everton's slender 3-2 lead felt more precarious when, just nine minutes into the second half, Calvert-Lewin had to be withdrawn with an apparent recurrence of his recent hamstring problem and was replaced by Seamus Coleman, a change that saw Richarlison move into a central attacking role and Iwobi switch to left midfield.

The lead would last only a couple of minutes longer and once again it was schoolboy defending at a corner from the same side as before that was the Toffees' undoing. Sigurdsson kept his attentions on Sanchez and not the ball which mean that when the set-piece was flicked on to the back post, it was the Colombian who tracked it and, holding off the Everton man, stuck out as leg to stab it home and level things up at 3-3.

If there was a sense that the pendulum had swung in the direction of Spurs, Richarlison would ensure that the next blow was landed by the hosts. Sigurdsson played him in nicely between the lines and the Brazil international powered past his man before lashing a superb left-footed shot across the keeper and in off the far post from a tight angle.

Carlo Ancelotti replaced Iwobi with Bernard immediately afterwards and, predictably, it was Tottenham who pressed as the game moved into the final minutes of normal time and they kept exposing Everton's weaknesses from set-pieces.

Olsen punched one dead-ball delivery straight to Lamela but the Argentine couldn't keep his shot down and it flew over. At the other end, Bernard put the ball on a platter for Keane in front of goal but the defender could only steer his shot into Lloris's arms.

With 82 minutes gone, however, Everton's defence was breached again following yet another corner. Olsen's glancing fist on the ball ended up with Lamela again, his shot was headed off the line by Abdoulaye Doucouré but when Son collected the loose ball on the far side and was allowed to bend a cross to the back post, substitute Harry Kane was there unmarked to head in from close range.

Once more, with their deeper bench and their tails up at having made it 4-4 to force extra-time, Spurs might have felt the momentum was with them. And they came close to making it 5-4 five minutes into the first half when Kane cut in off the byline and fired from close range but he scuffed his shot enough that Olsen was able to bounce on it.

Two minutes later, Everton grabbed the deciding goal that finally broke Spurs's resilience and was one worthy of settling any tie. Bernard played a ball inside to Sigurdsson, he controlled it and then chipped deftly over the defence for the little Brazilian to track and then half-volley sweetly past Lloris with his left foot.

The Blues still found the energy to come close to padding their lead in the first minute of the second period of extra-time when Sigurdsson and Richarlison raced away on the counter-attack but the former ignored the latter and the goalkeeper beat away his shot.

Keane then dropped a header off a free-kick wide before Tottenham's last, desperate attacks yielded a direct free-kick for Kane that came back off the defensive wall and a couple of corners that were much better defended before the referee called time on an exhausting but victorious contest for Ancelotti's players.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton and Tottenham went head-to-head in a real ding-dong FA Cup tie at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening in the FA Cup Fifth Round, 4-4 going into Extra Time.

It's the first meeting between the two clubs since the opening day of the 2020-21 season when the Toffees triumphed 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur stadium and they come into the tie sitting alongside each other in the Premier League table.

Everton's medical staff were assessing James Rodriguez this afternoon to see if he can play any part in the game but the answer is No — Everton's brilliant playmaker is not even on the bench.

Carlo Ancelotti names a fairly strong team but only seven players are named on the bench, two of them goalkeepers, including harry Tryer in the senior squad for the first time.

Spurs did most of the early running, and saw a fine header superbly saved by Olsen. Mora firing the parried ball well over Olsen's goal. That was followed by the first corner by Son, and the first goal, so easy for Sanchez high above everyone to glance into the Everton net.

Spurs continued to run at pace headlong at the sluggish Everton players who still seemed half asleep. Tom Davies gave Ndombele a good old-fashioned shoulder barge that left the Spurs player on the cold Goodison grass for a couple of minutes.

Everton had some decent possession but Richarlison could not find Doucouré and Iwobi's cross in was cleared, and then Keane gave the ball away cheaply, allowing Son a shot at Olsen.

Everton finally structured a more worthwhile attack that saw Richarlison's shot blocked by Sanchez before Godfrey tried to finish off with a strong shot from distance forcing Lloris to save low down by the post. From nothing, the ball fell to Calvert-Lewin at the far post and Lloris was lucky to push his slightly deflected shot onto the post and away. Nothing from the corner.

Some cultured football from Spurs set up Son for a fierce shot that forced Olsen to palm over. Olsen then had to save low and wide from Lamella as Spurs were getting some decent sights of the Everton goal.

Davies tried a pass that was too easily intercepted and decided to go in hard to recover the ball but the Spurs defender had danced away from him easily. Bergwijn stung Olsen's palms with another chance off a blocked Son shot. Another midfield surrender, Godfrey this time, saw Spurs scamper way and Kene deflected the shot behind.

Iwobi's cross was deflected behind for a corner. Mina jumping too high as HHøjbjerg pushed him. From the clearance, Spurs gave the ball away and Calvert-Lewin strode forward and put some tremendous power on the shot that overpowered Lloris to put Everton right back in the game.

Then, a simple attack, once touch off Digne to Calvert-Lewin, cleverly flicked back to Richarlison, who drove his shot beyond Lloris and into the far corner. A great turnaround inside 3 minutes!

Sigurdsson did well to play in Calvert-Lewin who was caught by Højbjerg and a penalty awarded, Gyfli Sigirdsson converting with aplomb!

It looked like Everton could well get a fourth before the break as Richarlison had a chance to chase down a loose ball but Lloris was out very quick to clear as Richarlison visibly hung back and avoided the challenge.

But Lamella was allowed to dance his way through and fire past Olsen after a slick one-two with Son before the break.

Everton got things going after the break but both sides seemed determined to keep making mistakes, Sigurdsson repeatedly dragging Moura ack by the shoulder until he was booked.

Doucouré got forward but passed to a defender rather than taking a shot, and Harry Kane then replaced Bergwijn as Calvert-Lewin needed treatment, then going off to be rather worryingly replaced by Coleman, Calvert-Lewin straight down the tunnel.

Son hammered in an excellent cross that Keane was well positioned to clear behind but from the corner, such as simple goal for off the corner, although Sanchez may have been offside?

Digne got the ball to Sigurdsson inside the Spurs area but he could only drive it at a defender. Coleman overlapped well but could not find Iwobi with his cross. A better move saw Sigurdsson trying a difficult volley that flew high over the goal.

Mina stood on Son's foot for a yellow card and a set-piece, played straight to Olsen. Bernard was brought on in place of Iwobi, who had faded from the game. But before that happened Richarlison got around the back and from a great ball by Sigurdsson, fires an excellent finish beyond Lloris, a great goal.

Spurs pushed hard for another equalizer. Olsen had to palm away another tricky Son corner but Lamella could not keep his shot down. Mora fouled Digne, giving the Blues a set-piece to swing in but Kane clears, however, the ball finds its way to Bernard who delivered a peach of a cross perfect for Keane to head straight at Lloris with the goal gapping.

Evereton were forced to defend for long spells as Spurs tried everything they could, with those wicked corners the greatest danger, but Richarlison headed the next one away well. Olsen had to punch away the next and Lamela fired back in, Doucourébrilliantly clearing off the line and it came back out to Son who somehow picked out Harry Kane for a close-range diving header to make it 4-4.

Lamela forced his way into the Everton area but lost control and fell over, then Dele Alli went down but the referee decided he had dived and showed him a yellow card. Richarlison was next in his book for dragging back Son as the game went into added time. Kane was fouled by Digne, yellow, then Kane on Davies, yellow.

Everton could not create a final chance and Spurs won another corner for Son to take before the game moved into Extra Time at 4-4.

Kane came closest to scoring in the early stages of extra time after Everton's forward play had not created anything approaching a chance. But then Coleman picked up a loose ball and SIgnurdsson was well-positioned to play in a lovely chip for Bernard who had incredibly stayed onside as he ran through and fired a wonderful shot beyond Lloris to give Everton the lead.

Spurs won another corner but Everton cleared, Winks fouling Coleman for another yellow card. Yet another corner, headed hind by Mina. Rinse and repeat: Keane cleared this time as Everton looked to play out the 2 additional minutes in the first half of extra time, with Sigurdsson unable to volley in a 6th as the whistle went.

In the final phase of this crazy game, Mina blocks a certain strike from Kane, Everton break and Sigurdsson fairly lashes one at Lloris, with Richarlison screaming for the pass, and Digne is replaced by Holgate. Sigurdsson played in a good set-piece that Keane headed just wide.

Everton tried to play it safe, rather than attacking again, but totally made a mess of it, Holgate forced to foul Vinicius but Kane could only rattle the wall... or was it Davies's arm? The Blues continued to live rather dangerously, getting a goal kick that should perhaps have been a corner. And that's what Holgate had to give away as Spurs attacked again ad almost forced a chance as the Blues tried to stay calm.

Winks crossed in but Kane could only head wide as time ticked away with Everton still clinging on to the lead. Into the final minute with Spurs still working it for a final corner, with one added minute as Keane heads the corner away. A last free-kick for Everton, surely they could hold on to the ball now? Yes they could! The fairy-tale tie was finally over with the Blues through to the Qurterfinals for the first time in 5 years.

Scorers: Calvert-Lewin (36'), Richarlison (38', 68'), G Sigurdsson (pen 43'), Bernard (99'); D Sánchez (3', 57'), Lamela (45'+), Kane (84')

Everton: Olsen, Godfrey, Mina [Y:66'], Keane, Digne [Y:92'] (107' Holgate), Doucouré, Davies, Sigurdsson [Y:47'], Iwobi (70' Bernard), Richarlison [Y:91'], Calvert-Lewin (56' Coleman).
Subs:Subs: Virginia, Tyrer, Nkounkou, Onyango.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Doherty (79' Sissoko), Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Højbjerg, Ndombele (91' Winks [y:102']), Lamela (98' Vinicius), Bergwijn (53' Kane [Y:93']), Lucas (77' Dele), Son.
Subs: Hart, Dier, Rodon, Tanganga.

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Everton and Tottenham go head-to-head at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening in the FA Cup Fifth Round with a place in the last eight up for grabs.

It's the first meeting between the two clubs since the opening day of the 2020-21 season when the Toffees triumphed 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur stadium and they come into the tie sitting alongside each other in the Premier League table.

Everton's medical staff are assessing James Rodriguez this afternoon to see if he can play any part in the game. The Colombian played more than an hour of Saturday's 3-3 draw with Manchester United but came off after bringing the Blues level with a wonderfully composed strike when he felt tightness in one of his calf muscles.

Carlo Ancelotti was asked his pre-match press conference today about the fitness of James and that of Jordan Pickford, who has missed the last two games with a rib complaint, and Allan who has been recovering from a hamstring tear since early December.

“I have to wait until after the training [session] we have in the afternoon to check on some situations,” the Italian said. “One is James, if he is available or not; one is Jordan, if he is available or not. They are going to train and then we will see.

“Allan started [training] with the team. He is not ready yet but I hope that he will be ready next game [against Fulham].”

Tomorrow evening's clash in the cup between the teams currently sitting seventh and eighth in the Premier League is a reverse of the opening game of the season in which Everton triumphed 1-0 on the debuts of Rodriguez, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucouré.

Spurs have struggled to live up to their pre-season hype and manager Jose Mourinho has come under fire for what many perceive to be an overly negative style of play.

After losing three in a row in the League following their FA Cup Fourth Round trouncing of Wycombe Wanderers, however, they beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 in North London on Sunday. Spurs were not expected to have Harry Kane available for this one after he picked up an injury a couple of weeks ago but be made a surprisingly rapid recovery and returned to lead their line against West Brom, scoring the first goal in the process.

Dele Alli is available for selection but Serge Aurier is doubtful and both Sergio Reguilon and Giovani lo Celso are reportedly ruled out.

Ancelotti was asked how his style of football compares to that of Mourinho, whose success in the game over the past two decades makes the Portuguese one of the few managers who can match the Italian's achievements, and he felt that they have a similar approach.

“I think we are really close on our ideas of football,” he said. “It is an honour for me to be compared to Jose. Mourinho's teams are always in balance. How I see his team play is comparable to us. don't know if it is a new style of football but for me to be compared to his style of football is an honour.”

Victory for the Toffees would, of course, put them into the last eight of the competition and one step closer to ending the club's long trophy drought. Ancelotti was asked whether he felt it would be more important to win a trophy this season reach Europe. An FA Cup triumph this year would deliver both, of course, but the manager insisted that European qualification is the more important aim.

“We are working for [silverware]. I know how desperate Evertonians are to win a trophy and we are working for this. I don't know if now, this season, is the right time, but what I can reassure [them] is we are trying to win a trophy here as soon as possible.

“For the stability of the club, the most important [thing] is to reach a European position. Of course, for the happiness winning a trophy will be really important but reaching Europe will give us a big improvement in terms of the stability of the club.”

Ancelotti has favoured a policy of rotation as a matter of course at times this season but it's become a necessity lately given the glut of fixtures on the calendar which has Everton in the midsts of a run of nine games in 27 days between their FA Cup Fourth Round defeat of Sheffield Wednesday and their Merseyside derby date at Anfield on the 20th of February.

Pickford would be a good bet to return if passed fit and Yerry Mina could come back into central defence after sitting out the draw at Old Trafford, possibly to give Ben Godfrey his first rest in quite a while. The young defender has been ever-present at either left back or centre-half in recent weeks and has been in excellent form but Ancelotti may use this opportunity to rest him.

In midfield, Alex Iwobi and Gylfi Sigurdsson., both substitutes at the weekend, could start in place of James and Andre Gomes respectively but with Allan nearing fitness, it's likely that Tom Davies will keep his place. In the forward areas, new signing Josh King is cup-tied.

Home ground advantage can often be vital in cup games but with fans barred from Goodison Park due to the pandemic, Everton have struggled on their own turf against top-flight opposition in recent weeks.

Indeed, while they came through the previous two rounds against Championship sides Rotherham and Wednesday with home wins, Ancelotti's men haven't beaten a Premier League club behind closed doors at Goodison since the first week of October.

There is no better time to arrest that disappointing run than against Spurs in the last 16 in what is being talked about as Ancelotti's most important match so far as the Toffees' boss.

Kick-off: 8:15 pm, Wednesday 10 February 2021 on BT Sport 1
Last Time: Everton 2 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur (FA Cup 5th Rnd, Feb 19, 1983)

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Holgate, Mina, Keane, Digne, Davies, Doucouré, Sigurdsson, Iwobi, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon Lloyd

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