A dramatic late goal from Dan Gosling ensured that Everton knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup at Goodison Park after extra-time on Wednesday evening.
The first half was a near non-event in terms of goalmouth action as neither goalkeeper was forced into shot-stopping action.
The key moment of the half came when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard had to be substituted with a hamstring injury after only 15 minutes.
Things improved in the second period, Leon Osman wasting the best chance of the 90 minutes as he struck a post, before Lucas was sent off for Liverpool after picking up a second booking as the game drifted into extra-time.
The extra-time period was tense and the game was looking like it was set for a penalty shoot-out. But, in the 119th minute, substitute Gosling found space in the box and shot home to give his side a famous win.
Team News
Everton were unchanged from the weekend, where they lost 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Victor Anichebe, the club’s only fit eligible striker with new signing Jo cup-tied, did not even make the substitutes’ bench.
Liverpool made two changes from the side that defeated Chelsea 2-0 at the weekend.
Andrea Dossena came in for Fabio Aurelio at left-back and Lucas partnered Xabi Alonso in central midfield, taking the place of Argentina captain Javier Mascherano.
First Half
Liverpool had the first meaningful effort of the half in the 7th minute, when Alonso’s effort from 25 yards was powerfully struck wide.
But disaster struck for the Reds after only 15 minutes when their captain, Steven Gerrard, had to limp off the field with what looked like a hamstring injury.
Israeli Yossi Benayoun came on to replace him as Everton fans let out a huge roar when the England midfielder left the pitch, highlighting the possible importance of that moment.
From then on the half was very much a scrappy affair, Tim Cahill and Steven Pienaar picking up bookings for the Toffees as referee Alan Wiley became busiest man on the field.
The home side’s best chance of the half came when Leon Osman volleyed narrowly over the crossbar after Cahill won an important header mid-way through the half.
Ultimately, though, Jose Reina and Tim Howard, the two goalkeepers, had nothing to do for the opening 45 minutes as the sides went into the break with the score goalless.
Second Half
The second half started in a similarly scrappy and competitive vein, Phil Neville being booked for a late tackle on Alonso before Lucas was carded for a foul on Mikel Arteta.
Marouane Fellaini looked like he had picked up an injury ten minutes into the half, the Belgian having to be substituted as Dan Gosling came on in his place.
Steven Pienaar was the latest to succumb to Everton’s gruelling recent schedule.
Youngster Jack Rodwell came on in place of the winger.
Howard was put to work for the first time in the 62nd minute. Alonso sent through Albert Riera as the Reds broke in numbers and the American rushed out at pace to smother the ball before the Spanish winger had the opportunity to shoot.
Gosling shot tamely at Reina from 18 yards and Dirk Kuyt headed straight at Howard as the game began to open up slightly, but with 20 minutes remaining a clear opportunity was yet to be created.
In the 71st minute, Everton came so close to finding the breakthrough. On the counterattack, Arteta cut inside, finding Cahill in the box, and the Australian laid the ball off to the onrushing Leon Osman, who shot with power and saw his effort strike the near post before bouncing away from danger.
With fifteen minutes to go, the game took another turn in the home side’s favour when Lucas was sent off for the Reds. As Joleon Lescott charged forward from the back, the Brazilian midfielder mis-timed his challenge and took the defender out, meaning he picked up his second yellow card of the match and was subsequently dismissed.
Mascherano came on for Riera as Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez looked to plug the gap left by Lucas with ten minutes of normal time remaining.
And despite a spell of Everton pressure, they were able to hold out to force the game into extra-time.
Extra-Time
Five minutes into extra-time, Osman turned well in the Liverpool box and shot straight at Reina, before the Spaniard made an important double save moments later.
Osman was again involved in the action, turning well and shooting from distance – forcing Reina into a save. He didn’t hold on to the ball, though, and had to react swiftly to save Gosling’s follow-up effort.
From the resulting corner, Cahill headed Leighton Baines’ delivery inches wide of the far post as the Toffees dominated.
Fernando Torres, who had been nursing an injury for much of the night after an earlier challenge from Lescott, was replaced by Ryan Babel for Liverpool just prior to half-time in extra-time.
The second period of extra-time produced next to no clear-cut chances until Gosling struck a dramatic winner for Everton in the 119th minute. The midfielder collected Tony Hibbert’s cross, twisted and turned in an attempt to find space, before curling a shot into the far corner from 10 yards to give his side a famous win.
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