THE EMIRATES FA CUP FIFTH ROUND
WEDNESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY, 2021
(8.15pm)
EVERTON 5(3) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4(2)
(A.E.T – Score after 90 mins 4-4)
Everton scorers:-
Calvert-Lewin, 36
Richarlison, 38, 68
Sigurdsson (pen), 43
Bernard, 97
Spurs scorers:-
Sanchez, 3,57
Lamela (45+3)
Kane, 83
Attendance:- 0
Referee:- David Coote
Assistants:- Lee Betts & Nick Hopton
Fourth Official:- Martin Atkinson
VAR:- Chris Kavanagh
Additional VAR:- Stephen Child
Teams:-
Everton (4-2-3-1):- Olsen; Godfrey, Mina, Keane, Digne (sub Holgate, 107); Doucoure, Davies; Iwobi (sub Bernard, 70), Sigurdsson (Capt.), Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin (sub Coleman, 55)
Subs not used:- Joao Virginia (GK), Tyrer (GK); Nkounku; Onyango
Booked:- Sigurdsson (foul on Lucas Moura), Mina (foul on Son), Richarlison (foul on Son), Digne (foul on Kane)
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Lloris (Capt.); Doherty (sub Sissoko, 99), Sanchez, Alderweireld, Davies; Ndombele (sub Winks, 91), Hojbjerg; Lucas Moura (sub Dele, 77), Lamela (sub Vinicius, 98), Bergwijn (sub Kane, 53); Son
Subs not used:- Hart; Rodon, Dier, Tanganga;
Booked:- Dele (simulation), Kane (foul on Davies), Winks (foul on Coleman)
Spurs lose crazy game. The hurt goes on
How do you analyze this game where we lost by the odd goal in nine? If forced, I'd say Everton moved the ball forward quicker and more incisively than did Spurs, who did not take full advantage of early skill and chances. I would also say that, apart from Kane, who scored his 209th club goal, our substitutes did not improve our side. That said, mistakes were made by too many of our players all night. Of course it was a great game for the non-partisan and ultimately for Everton fans, but for Spurs it means no FA Cup Final for 31 years and the hurt goes on. Two trophies in the last 29 years is not good enough for this club. I know we are in the League Cup Final, but that will be against Manchester City. Spurs will always let you down. (That was nearly my headline)
I assume that Harry Kane started on the bench as a precaution after his early return last Sunday following injury. He will definitely be required this coming Saturday when we face a Manchester City side who earlier tonight won their 15h consecutive game. Aurier was absent, having suffered a knock against West Brom, and Gareth Bale was, well, just absent.
Everton had no Pickford, no James Rodriguez, and could only muster 7 substitutes, two of whom were goalkeepers. The game was preceded by respect shown towards former Everton and Wales goalkeeper Dai Davies, whose death was announced earlier today. Spurs kicked off, playing towards the Gwladys Street End and could have scored in the first minute. They attacked in force through Lamela, Lucas Moura and a cross by Bergwijn from the left. Lamela headed down and goalkeeper Olsen saved to his right. The ball rolled out to Lucas Moura, who should have scored, but skied his attempt.
We continued to press, playing some slick short passes, and Bergwijn won a corner taken from the left by Son, which Sanchez headed in to the net across the keeper. It was Sanchez’s first goal for exactly two years. His last was against Leicester at Wembley. He would have a second goal later in the game. Tanguy Ndombele needed treatment after a shoulder collision with Tom Davies, and I’m not sure he ever fully recovered.
Everton gave the ball away repeatedly in the first half, but we failed to properly take advantage of the chances we created. After a poor clearance by Keane the lively Lamela and Lucas Moir moved the ball forward with Lucas making the final pass to Son, whose left foot shot was saved by Olsen diving to his right.
Richarlison had a shot well blocked by Sanchez, and in the ensuing play a long range shot by Godfrey was saved by Hugo Lloris at his left post. Hojbjerg made a good central run reaching the edge of the Everton area, passing to Son to his right. “Sonny’s” cross for Lucas was cleared. Everton were getting a footing on the game and after a cross from the left Calvert-Lewin hit a shot which Lloris managed to push onto the bottom of his left post.
Spurs had a good move after 25 minutes ending in a cross by Doherty, low and hard to Son, who hit a right-footed shot, saved again by Olsen with his right hand. Another gift from the Everton defence, this one a poor header by Mina, gave Erik Lamela a chance with a 25 yard shot, but Olsen saved this quite comfortably. Lucas passed the ball short to Son, whose attempt was blocked before the ball ran to Bergwijn to the left of goal. His right foot shot was saved and held by the Everton reserve keeper. More Spurs pressure followed, and a couple of corners, but nothing came of them.
The game took a nasty turn after Everton had a corner on the right and Yerry Mina headed wide. Spurs had a goal-kick, but of course they tried to play out from the back and of all people, it was Hojbjerg who lost the ball on our left flank. Everton worked the ball to the middle where Calvert-Lewin hit the ball with power. Lloris got a touch, but it wasn’t enough. It was 2-1 within two minutes as Calvert-Lewin back-heeled a pass to Richarlison who scored with a right-footed shot to the right of Hugo.
Disaster struck again when referee David Coote pointed to the spot after Richarlison was clipped by Hojbjerg. One-time Spurs man Gylfi Sigurdsson scored with Hugo committing early to his right. Gylfi was chosen by co-commentator Glenn Hoddle as man of the match, as he did make Everton’s next two, almost identical goals.
Sanchez might have scored two goals tonight, but his defending was not that great. He was rescued by Hugo coming out to take the ball off Richarlison’s feet after Davinson nearly gave it away. Erik Lamela scored a crucial goal in the third minute of added time, playing a nice one-two with Son and entering the box on the left before dinking his shot over Olsen.
Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti are genuinely good friends (in football they have previously been Milan enemies) and were enjoying amicable conversation just before the re-start of the game after half-time. Whilst Spurs were enjoying some early possession, they were not creating chances now, falling into slow and pedantic moves. Harry Kane could be seen getting ready, and replaced Bergwijn in the 53rd minute. Calvert-Lewin was getting treatment and he was soon replaced by Coleman, who played on the right side of midfield, with Richarlison takin g over the main striker role.
A low cross by Son was cleared back across his goalmouth by Keane for another corner. Son took this from the left (in front of the empty away stand). Toby Alderweireld headed the ball on and Olsen could only parry it towards Sanchez who finished with an improvised shot. That made it 3-3, in case you were losing count. Digne crossed at the other end and Sigurdsson took an early shot, but that was well over the target.
Lucas Moura was inside the box towards the right and crossed low to Kane, whose attempt was blocked. Spurs had a free kick after Mina was booked for his foul on Son, but this was simply hit by Lamela into Olsen’s arms. Disaster struck again as Spurs failed to clear their lines from the right flank. Sigurdsson played a lovely ball to Richarlison, who had timed his run well before scoring with his left foot across Lloris. Former Arsenal man Iwobi was replaced by Bernard.
After 73 minutes, Olsen could only pat away another corner by Son. The ball fell to Lamela, but he fired over. Now Dele Alli was seen preparing to come on. Everton were defending in numbers, and generally doing a good job of blocking Spurs, but when they moved forward it was with more penetration than Spurs. Bernard sent over a dangerous cross, from which Keane should have scored, but he headed straight at Lloris. Keane headed a Kane cross intended for Son out for a corner at the other end. Dele came on for Lucas and both Vinicius and Sissoko were also now being primed.
Spurs had a couple of corners. After one of these a Lamela shot was blocked and won another corner. That too was cleared, but in the ensuing play Son returned the ball from the left. There was a touch across the area and Harry Kane dived in to head home at the back post to make it 4-4. That goal took him to clear second place behind Jimmy Greaves in the club goalscoring chart. Those two subs were put on hold again.
Harry Kane tried a quite audacious right foot shot from the corner of the penalty area, but the ball passed wide of the far post. Dele was booked (perhaps harshly) for simulation. Son also had a shot go wide of that far post, after Lamela had passed to him. We went to extra time.
Everton kicked off and played towards the Gwladys Street End. Four minutes into extra time Spurs had an attack on the left with Harry and Erik having a one-two pass, before Lamela’s shot was saved.
Everton took the lead (9for the last decisive time) in the 97th minute. Lamela had been guilty of giving the ball away enabling the attack which ended again with Sigurdsson lifting a fine ball and this time Bernard timing his run well to score almost a replica goal to Richarlison’s second. You’d think Hugo would be alert to this one.
Doherty was replaced by Sissoko, but to be frank he is not an effective right back and succeeded with I think only one cross. Vinicius replaced Lamela. The one Sissoko cross I do remember came after a skilful pass down the flank by dele and a low cross which gave Kane a shot on goal, blocked by Mina. Sigurdsson had space at the other end and didn’t hit the best of shots, enabling Hugo to save. We were in the second half of extra time now. Spurs had a free kick on the edge of the box after substitute Holgate had fouled Vinicius. Harry took this, but it was blocked by the wall.
Spurs pressed for yet another equaliser, but got no joy. Harry Kane did get a header on a Winks cross, but put it wide. Winks was guilty of a rushed and shocking attempt in the final throes of the game.
This is the first time the “Toffees” have beaten us in consecutive games since home games in March and December 2012. We’ve now lost four consecutive FA Cup ties against this side, but those games do stretch back to the early 80s.
As regular readers know, I hate it when our interest in the FA Cup ends. Now we have to focus on the Europa League and the League Cup, but remember what I wrote in the first paragraph.
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