4-5 v Everton FC - 10 February 2021 - Away

Tottenham Hotspur Badge

Spurs 4

Everton FC

Everton FC

5

Details
Match Number

7462

Opposition
Everton

Everton FC

Opposition Level

1

Competition
Fa cup

FA Cup

Round / Leg

Round 5

After Extra Time

Season

2020/21

Date

10th February 2021

Kick Off

20:15

Venue

Goodison Park

Attendance

0

Referee

David Coote

VAR

Chris Kavanagh

Weather at Kick Off

-2.6° - Clear

Facts & Milestones
  • 7426th overall match (3557 wins, 1625 draws, 2231 losses)

  • 5824th competitive match (2639 wins, 1357 draws, 1828 losses)

  • team

    187th match vs Everton FC (69 wins, 57 draws, 61 losses)

  • competition

    447th FA Cup match (231 wins, 107 draws, 109 losses)

  • 6775th match in England (3200 wins, 1512 draws, 2050 losses)

  • 92nd match at Goodison Park (22 wins, 31 draws, 39 losses)

  • There were 2 changes to the starting lineup from the last match.

Against STATS For
17 Attempts 29
10 Attempts on Target 12
44% Possession 57%
24 Crosses 49
13 Tackles 7
11 Interceptions 11
7 Saves 5
18 Fouls 13
4 Yellow Cards 3
1 Offsides 0
Report

Everton reached the FA Cup quarter-finals after edging out Tottenham Hotspur in a nine-goal classic at Goodison Park.

A magnificent contest swung in both teams' favour before Carlo Ancelotti's hosts - showing huge reserves of resolve and fitness - finally struck the decisive blow when substitute Bernard fired home in the seventh minute of extra time.

Spurs dominated the early exchanges and were rewarded when Davinson Sanchez headed in from a corner in the third minute before Everton sprang to life with a three-goal burst inside eight minutes before half-time.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who later went off with what looked like a groin injury, levelled nine minutes before the break with a shot Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris should have saved, before Richarlison's fine low drive and Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty looked to have put Everton in command.

But Erik Lamela scored in the closing seconds of the first half to put Spurs back in contention and Sanchez pounced again after more chaos at a corner to drag Jose Mourinho's side level just before the hour.

Mourinho had introduced Harry Kane as a substitute just before that equaliser but it was Everton who edged ahead again as more brilliant individual work by Richarlison restored their advantage after 68 minutes - but it was inevitable Spurs' main man would have a say.

It came with seven minutes of normal time left as Everton were undone by the old firm, Son Heung-min's cross the perfect invitation for Kane to score with a far-post header.

All the momentum appeared to be with Spurs but Everton are now a side to be reckoned with under Ancelotti and Bernard cashed in after more good work by Sigurdsson - who claimed three assists - to beat Lloris with an angled finish.

There was still time for Spurs to respond but Everton saw out an outstanding victory in relative comfort, certainly given what had gone before, to secure a place in the last eight.

Ancelotti, the manager who has seen it all, was the calmest man amid the mayhem inside Goodison Park - celebrating what turned out to be the winner from Bernard by simply blowing on his cup of coffee while his backroom staff reacted wildly.

This was perhaps the Italian's finest moment since coming to Everton, his side - without the injured James Rodriguez, Andre Gomes and Jordan Pickford - showing remarkable energy, spirit and a capacity to recover from adversity to outlast their visitors.

Ancelotti will be concerned about some of Everton's questionable defending - especially from corners - and the injury to Calvert-Lewin, but he will also be justifiably proud of how they fought back to win when, at several stages, the tide seemed to be turning against them.

The sight of Calvert-Lewin going off, Spurs danger man Kane having just come on and losing a two-goal lead as the hour mark approached could have undermined Everton but they carried a threat throughout, with Richarlison back to his menacing best after a season where he has not been in peak form.

In midfield, both Tom Davies and Abdoulaye Doucoure were outstanding, the latter demonstrating remarkable fitness and still running non-stop until the final seconds, while his young team-mate continues to flourish under the sympathetic guidance of Ancelotti.

Sigurdsson, who scored calmly from the spot after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg tripped Calvert-Lewin, was also a huge creative force and contributed hugely to Everton's attacking threat.

Everton are seeking their first trophy since they won the FA Cup in 1995 - they beat Spurs in the semi-finals on that occasion - and this victory will raise hopes not just of further progress in the competition, but for their long-term development under of one of Europe's most decorated managers.

The scenes of elation at the final whistle were understandable and fully deserved. Everton gave everything and were rewarded.

Mourinho would have hoped to build on Sunday's Premier League win against West Bromwich Albion after three successive defeats - but he was left to survey the end of Spurs' FA Cup ambitions after a dramatic night on freezing Merseyside.

It all looked good for Spurs for the first half-hour as they had a deserved lead, but the manner in which they capitulated for those crucial minutes to concede three goals just before the break, and then continued to look vulnerable, meant this was a very damaging night.

Spurs, after criticism of Mourinho's perceived conservative approach in recent weeks, were positive and played with attacking intent throughout with some sparkling passing but were let down by dreadful defending and another expensive error from Lloris, who should have saved Calvert-Lewin's equaliser but only helped a powerful drive that was straight at him into the net.

Mourinho did not risk Kane from the start after his return from an ankle injury at the weekend, but when he was introduced it was with Spurs looking the more likely winners.

He will be particularly frustrated with his porous defence, given his stock-in-trade is meant to be a rearguard that gives nothing away.

This looked nothing like a Mourinho team in a defensive context.

This was the first time a team managed by Mourinho has conceded five goals since his Chelsea side lost 5-3 to his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham in January 2015.

And another sub-plot to this FA Cup exit was the absence of Gareth Bale, who Mourinho said had complained of a muscular issue so was not even on the bench.

Bale's return to Spurs on loan from Real Madrid, hailed as a coup when he arrived, has turned into a huge anti-climax. It will continue to be a distraction if results do not improve.

This was a night where there was very little in the way of good news for Mourinho and Spurs - and next they face a visit to rampant Manchester City on Saturday.

Everton assistant boss Duncan Ferguson to BBC Sport: "It was an exciting game. Tottenham started better than us and got the lead but we got ourselves back into the game.

"At 3-1 you're thinking 'get to half-time at 3-1' and then they score to put us on the back foot. Exciting game, fantastic.

"It's 25 years since we won the FA Cup. It would be great to get to the final. It keeps your season going. We want to do well in the Premier League but the FA Cup is the one we want."

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho, speaking to BBC Sport: "If you say it was fantastic, it was fantastic. I'm not a neutral.

"When you score four goals, you have to win. The way we played, we should win comfortably. Attacking football and defensive mistakes.

"The players gave everything. I have to admit for some of them it was not easy because you play so well and one, two, three mistakes and you're losing 3-1.

"OK, I take positives. Amazing to watch."

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