Everton 5-4 Tottenham Hotspur
There was an instant FA Cup classic at Goodison Park! Everton topped Tottenham Hotspur 5-4 after extra time in one of the tournament’s most memorable ties in recent years.
The match had several twists and turns throughout, with Tottenham grabbing an early lead only for Everton to come back with three quick goals at the end of the first half. But Spurs valiantly came from behind twice to tie it up at 3-3 and then 4-4 to force extra time.
However, the third time was the charm for Everton as Bernard broke Spurs’ hearts with his extra-time goal, which sent the Toffees through to the quarter-finals.
Highlights of the game
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho decided to start the match with top scorer Harry Kane on the bench, but his side still began the match brightly.
Spurs were almost ahead inside the opening minute, but Everton keeper Robin Olsen made a fantastic save to keep out an Erik Lamela header. Lucas Moura then fired well over the bar on the rebound.
However, Olsen couldn’t stop Davinson Sanchez’s glancing header, which gave Spurs the early lead after just three minutes.
But as Carlo Ancelotti’s side showed in their stirring comeback against Manchester United, they are capable of overcoming adversity. After being denied by Hugo Lloris on a couple of occasions, the home side eventually got their equaliser on 36 minutes through the hero of Old Trafford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg committed a costly turnover from inside his own third, and Gylfi Sigurdsson set up Calvert-Lewin for a shot which Lloris could not keep out.
And the Toffees struck again to take the lead just two minutes later. Calvert-Lewin turned provider as he set up Richarlison, who drilled a shot from the edge of the box right into the bottom corner.
Things would go from bad to worse for Tottenham – and Hojbjerg – as Everton won a penalty after the Spurs midfielder tripped Calvert-Lewin in the penalty area.
Sigurdsson, who was running the show for Everton with James Rodriguez absent, stepped up to the spot and sent Lloris the wrong way to give the Toffees a 3-1 lead.
However, Spurs did go into the break with renewed hope as they pulled a goal back deep into first-half stoppage time. Everton’s Yerry Mina failed to cut out a one-two between Son and Lamela, which allowed the Argentine to get in behind and slot the ball past Olsen.
Spurs would then tie it all up at 3-3 12 minutes into the second half. Toby Alderweireld’s flick-on header from a corner was well-saved by Olsen, but Spurs’ other centre-back, Sanchez, was in the right spot to poke home the rebound.
However, Everton would nudge back ahead just 11 minutes later. Sigurdsson supplied a brilliant through ball to Richarlison, who scored his second with a magnificent finish from a tight angle.
Everton had a great chance to further solidify their FA Cup 2021 odds of winning the tie as substitute Bernard’s cross found Michael Keane unmarked for a free header in the six-yard box. But the Toffees defender headed the ball straight into the arms of Lloris.
Keane would be left to rue that missed chance as Spurs equalised once again seven minutes from time. After Everton initially cleared a Lamela shot off the line, Son delivered a great cross toward the far post, where Harry Kane was waiting to score the goal that would send this remarkable tie into extra-time.
Harry Kane celebrates scoring Tottenham Hotspur’s fourth goal against Everton at Goodison Park
Kane then had a chance to get Spurs back in front five minutes into the first period of extra time, but he was unable to finish. His miss would ultimately prove costly as Everton came back the other way and took the lead for a third and final time.
Sigurdsson set up yet another goal as his beautifully chipped pass found Bernard, who blasted his volley past Lloris. Spurs couldn’t pick themselves up to come back one last time as Everton held on for the famous victory.
Key statistics
Spurs spent most of the 120 minutes trying to come from behind, and it showed in the stats. They outshot their hosts, 29-17, and had a 12-10 edge in terms of shots on target.
Despite only coming on in the second half, Harry Kane still finished with an astounding 10 shots, five more than team-mates Lamela and Son.
On the Everton side, Calvert-Lewin continued his recent resurgence as he scored in his third straight game.
However, the star of the show for either side was clearly Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Everton skipper was simply sensational as he filled up the FA Cup 2021 highlights reel all by himself. He had a hand in four of the team’s five goals, setting up three while scoring a penalty.
What’s next?
Everton, who are one point above Tottenham in the Premier League standings with a game in hand, will look to maintain their lead over Spurs when they host relegation strugglers Fulham this weekend.
As for Tottenham, the SBOTOP odds will be heavily against them as they go away to championship favourites Manchester City, who extended their winning streak to 15 games by beating Swansea 3-1 in their FA Cup fifth-round tie.
With City in such fantastic form, Everton and the other six remaining teams will be hoping not to draw them in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
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The post FA Cup: Everton Outlast Tottenham in Epic Extra-Time Thriller appeared first on SBOTOP.
