Everton lose penalty shoot-out at Goodison Park

Everton 1 - 1 Fulham [6 - 7 on Penalties]

Everton battled long and hard to get back level in this game after a Keane own-goal, Beto finally heading the equaliser under the lights at Goodison Park, only to lose the penalty shoot-out from a winning position with Onana's dreadful attempt.

Jarrad Branthwaite and Idrissa Gana Gueye return to the side following one-match suspensions as a result of accumulated yellow cards, while Abdoulaye Doucouré is rumoured to have a serious thigh injury that could keep him sidelined for a number of weeks. 

Michael Keane retains his place in the defence after his impressive performance at Turf Moor, while Ben Godfrey drops to the bench where Sean Dyche again names both reserve goalkeepers, with no place for André Gomes.

The visitors under former Everton manager Marco Sillva included both Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi, former Blues. 

The game got underway but it was mostly cagey stuff as each team tried to get the measure of the other, with Jarrad Branthwaite playing left-back and he needed to be at his best to stop Reid getting past him.

Everton finally got forward with Harrison playing in Gana but his cross eluded a blue shirt. Patterson did well to stall Iwobi. Calvert-Lewin wasn't winning anything pumped up in the air against Tosun. Tarkoski tried a deep ball but it eluded Garner. McNeil's angled free-kick went straight through to the Fulham keeper. 

Another deep free-kick from Dwight flew wide over Keane and out for a throw-in. Branthwaite overlapped McNeil but his cross was overhit, and he was quickly back in his own area to clear. It was end to end but without any threat as the defences were both on top. 

Garner was next to get in a cross but it was behind Calvert-Lewin, who then set up McNeil in tremendous space but he hammered his shot high over the bar. Some more intense Everton play saw some excellent work from a slew of Everton players, Branthwaite's cross being defended behind for a corner. But the corner did not threaten. 

A great run from Branthwaite saw him ghost around the back to meet a fine cross from Harrison but his downward header bound up nicely for Leno. The sustained Everton pressure was briefly broken but Pickford's long hoof was easily caught by Leno. 

More good football got the ball forward for Everton, Garner trying to find Calvert-Lewin with a couple of decent crosses. At the other end, Patterson was called for a handball wide right as he tried to control a bouncing ball but Tarkowski defended the free-kick well.

Palhinha and Keane came together, the Fulham player falling awkwardly and the referee deeming it a foul for a very dangerous free-kick, Keane booked for his protestations. Willian drilled a low shot through the wall and a foot wide. But on the next Fulham attack, Robinson crossed but it came off Keane's upper arm and into his own net. 

Everton attacked again in numbers but the referee saw a foul. However, on the next attack, it was Branthwaite who was fouled, Garner put a great ball in but everyone missed it. Garner was fouled by Bassey out wide but the referee said no and Everton had to go in a goal down at the break from a rather strange own goal: it was unclear what Keane had tried to do with Robinson's cross. 

The game resumed but long balls hoofed up for Calvert-Lewin weren't sticking. Harrison did well to steal the ball off Robinson but his crossfield pass was almost intercepted by Wilson. Patterson and Willian went down with a clash of heads, Patterson getting a yellow card for his contribution.  

But Everton just could not get going in any way, Garner giving away a silly free-kick on Willian. But finally they got forward, Harrison powering a shot just wide after great work by Patterson. At the other end, Wilson lashed a clearance well above Pickford. 

The game desperately needed something: would Dyche put Beto on? Calvert-Lewin seemed to have a chance but gave way to the advancing Leno. Rodrigo blatantly dived but no sanction. Garner was then fouled but nothing came from the free-kick. 

The hour mark came but Onana played an awful forward ball between Everton players.  McNeil's cross was easily defended. Calvert-Lewin, who had been worse than useless, was replaced by Beto. But Pickford's first attempt to find him was woefully overhit straight out of play as Everton struggled more and more to get a grip on the game and the Goodison crowd became more and more agitated with proceedings. 

Tete tackled McNeil poorly from behind and got a yellow card. Harrison crossed in but could not find Beto and nothing Everton tried was working. Iwobi got forward for Fulham and Branthwaite had to head it behind for a corner, Iwobi smacking one at Pickford that drew a fine save for another corner that was cleared. 

Beto went down too easily and wanted a penalty that was never on. Tete then went down too easily and handled the ball to stop play but he was not shown a second yellow card.  Patterson forced an Everton corner from McNei but it was cleared.  Danjuma then replaced Harrison. 

Patterson got into space and crossed but Beto over-ran the ball for what should have been a guilt-edged scoring chance. Better efforts saw McNeil's shot blocked, then Beto breaking offside but unable to beat Leno.

Fulham subs disrupted Everton's tempo. with the clock rapidly running down. Tarkowski got away with one when he brought down De Cordova-Reid but Fulham wasted the free-kick. Everton became even more desperate but the play just became that much more scrappy.

But Everton attacked frantically this time, the ball going around the penalty area until Beto got his head onto a deflected Garner shot that bounced up nicely for him and he fairly buried it, much to the relief of Goodison Park. 

Finally, the game came alive, Fulham realising they had lost a key advantage, as Tarkowski was kicked off the ball by Rodrigo after he had body-checked the Fulham player.

It was hectic and scrappy now as each side took turns to try and break the other. Into 7 added minutes, the ball fell to Danjuma and he hammered his volley wide when perhaps he could have buried a winner. 

Fulham went forward and were denied at least two good chances with tremendous blocks. Everton were stretched as Fulham countered again but Robinson wellied his shot well wide of goal. 

Deep into added time but Everton struggled to create another chance, as Fulham again countered at speed, Tete with the cross. It was desperate stuff as penalties loomed, De Cordova-Reid with what looked to be a golden chance to score. 

Everton countered and got a free-kick wide left but no chance came and the whistle went for the dreaded penalty shoot-out. 

James Tarkowski won the toss and of course chose the Gwladys Street End:

Beto: smashed it home. [1 - 0]
Pereira: stuttered and slotted: [1 - 1]
McNeil: buried with ease [2 - 1]
Cairney: Just wide of Pickford's dive [2 - 2]
Keane: Smacked it top corner! [3 - 2]
Palhinha: Pickford got an arm to it... [3 - 3]
Danjuma: Sends Leno the wrong way [4 - 3]
De Cordova-Reid: Saved by Pickford... although he came off his line!!! [4 - 3]
Onana: passes it softly to Leno... shocking! [4 - 3]
Vinicius: scores. [4 - 4]
Tarkowski: Smashed high down the middle! [5 - 4]
Tete: Just beyond Pickford. [5 - 5]
Garner: replace ball Leno, out, yellow card... goal! [6 - 5]
Robinson: Sends Pickford the wrong way [6 - 6]
Gueye: hits the post! [6 - 6]
Tosun: wins penalty shoot-out [6 - 7]

Everton: Pickford; Patterson [Y:49'], Tarkowski, Keane [Y:39'], Branthwaite; Harrison (72' Danjuma), Gueye, Garner, Onana, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin (60' Beto).

Subs:  Virginia, Lonnergan, Godfrey, Hunt, Metcalfe,  Chermitti, Dobbin. 

Fulham:  Leno [Y:100'], Tete [Y:64], Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson, Joao Palhinha, Reed (77' Andreas Pereira) , Wilson (77' De Cordova-Reid), Iwobi (87' Diop), Willian (62' Cairney), Rodrigo Muniz (87' Vinicius).

Subs:  Rodak, Ballo-Toure, Castagne, Lukic.

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