Fulham beat Everton on penalties to advance to League Cup semi-finals for the first time
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Fulham took the lead four minutes before the break when Everton defender Michael Keane turned the ball into his own net.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Fulham manager Marco Silva praised his players collectively for their “composure”, after Tosin Adarabioyo struck the winning spot kick as they defeated Everton 7-6 in a penalty shoot-out on Dec 19 to advance to the League Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history.
The Cottagers took the lead four minutes before the break when Everton defender Michael Keane turned the ball into his own net. It took until the 82nd minute for the hosts to equalise through substitute Beto.
Both teams had decent chances to grab a winner at Goodison Park in regulation time but, with the scores still level after 90 minutes, the game went straight to a penalty shoot-out.
Tied at 6-6 with each goalkeeper having made a save, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye then struck the left post with a rushed effort, and Fulham centre-back Adarabioyo stepped up to stroke home the winner.
Besides the thrill of victory, Silva enjoyed a measure of revenge on the club who sacked him in 2019, by leading Fulham into their first domestic semi-final since the 2002 FA Cup.
“It’s incredible what the players have been doing,” he said. “We wanted to make history in the football club.
“We did change four or five players from the last game (3-0 English Premier League loss at Newcastle United), tonight we knew it was going to be very tough as Everton are in a good moment.
“I know how difficult it is when you come here. Even when we scored the first goal they (Everton fans) do not stop supporting their team.
“When we conceded and it went 1-1, I made some tactical changes but after the changes I think we did control the game much better. The penalty shoot-out, the team kept their composure and showed maturity.”
Everton boss Sean Dyche, meanwhile, did not dwell too much on defeat and praised his players nonetheless for their efforts in a game which he felt they did well.
“You don’t want those things (an own goal and a penalty shoot-out) to go against you but it did. But I thought the quality of the performance was there again, particularly with the work ethic,” he said.
“I’ve spoken endlessly about the mentality of this group and the growth within it and it was there again today.
“The true quality moments we’ve been finding recently were lacking a little bit but there was lots of endeavour and will to go and make it happen. The energy was brilliant, then it goes to penalties and then you’re in the lap of the gods.”
Elsewhere, Middlesbrough cruised past third-tier Port Vale 3-0 to reach the semi-finals for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 2004.
Michael Carrick’s Championship side ruined Port Vale’s first quarter-final appearance with goals from Jonathan Howson, Morgan Rogers and Matt Crooks. REUTERS, AFP