Everton progress after nine-goal clash on Merseyside - report and debrief

A classic FA Cup tie went against us at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening as we were on the wrong end of a nine-goal thriller.

Despite taking an early lead through Davinson Sanchez, we found ourselves 3-1 down and fought back to 3-3 thanks to Erik Lamela and another from Sanchez, only to have to recover again to take the tie into extra time at 4-4 through Harry Kane’s 83rd-minute equaliser. But Bernard’s goal seven minutes into the first extra period was to prove decisive and ended our cup campaign for another season.

We’d already gone close inside the opening minute through Lamela, whose header was superbly saved by Robin Olsen with Lucas Moura blazing the rebound over, but took the lead in the third minute. Heung-Min Son delivered a corner and Sanchez climbed highest despite being surrounded by three Everton players to glance a header into the far corner.

For the opening half-an-hour we were excellent, attacking with real intent and forcing Olsen into a number of good saves without extending our advantage – and were made to pay as Everton hit us with three goals in seven minutes.

The equaliser came in the 36th minute as Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fierce half-volley had too much power for Hugo Lloris and the home side were ahead two minutes later when Calvert-Lewin teed up Richarlison who drove low into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

It was 3-1 just before the interval when a penalty was awarded for what seemed an accidental trip in the area by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on Calvert-Lewin, with former Spur Gylfi Sigurdsson converting the spot-kick. But there was still time for us to pull one back before half-time as Lamela played a one-two with Son on the edge of the area and beat Olsen with a smart finish.

We made a change early in the second half with Kane replacing Steven Bergwijn and we levelled the scores in the 57th minute through Sanchez again, who was in the right place to prod home from close range after Toby Alderweireld’s header from a corner had been saved by Olsen. Back came the hosts though, retaking the lead on 68 minutes through Richarlison who timed his run onto Sigurdsson’s pass in behind our defence and lashed a shot past Lloris from a tight angle. But again we showed great resolve to claw our way back into the match, drawing level at 4-4 in the 83rd minute when Son skipped past Tom Davies down the left channel and dug out a cross to the far post which Kane met with a diving header to send the game into extra time.

Five minutes into the first extra period we so nearly went in front but Olsen kept out Kane’s close-range curler and two minutes later, we fell behind once more as Sigurdsson’s clip over our defence found substitute Bernard and he scored with an angled drive.

Within the first minute of the second period both sides had opportunities to score, Kane’s effort well blocked by Mina before the Toffees went straight up the other end and Lloris parried away Sigurdsson’s 20-yard drive. We spent most of the final minutes camped in Everton’s half, piling on the pressure but couldn’t carve out that one last chance to draw level again.

Missed chances prove costly

The early goal was a great start for us and we looked to build on that with plenty of offensive football which should have reaped further reward. After Son’s low shot was easily saved by Olsen, the visitors did have a couple of near misses with Lloris pushing Ben Godfrey’s 30-yarder away and then saving really well to tip Calvert-Lewin’s effort onto the post after the ball had flicked off Ben Davies.

But it was Olsen at the other end who was the busier goalkeeper, tipping over Son’s sweeping shot after an excellent move in the 26th minute and he then saved Lamela’s 25-yard effort moments later, before being in the right place to stop Bergwijn’s stinging drive after another well-worked attack. Unfortunately though, we were punished in the most severe fashion with the Toffees’ three-goal blitz and, from that moment on, we were always playing catch up. In fairness, we did indeed level the game up as we showed real character to come back to 3-3 and 4-4, but it was the home side who had the final say.

Davinson's double

While Sanchez won’t take too many favourable memories away from Wednesday night, he did score an unlikely brace! Ironically, his only Spurs goals have come on 10 February – having scored his only other goal before this match on the same day two years ago when we beat Leicester City 3-1 in the Premier League.

Team news saw Jose Mourinho make two changes from the team that started against West Brom in the Premier League on Sunday. Matt Doherty and Bergwijn came in for Serge Aurier and Kane, the latter dropping to the bench after returning from injury on Sunday. Dele was also on the bench after missing our last six matches with a tendon injury – he made his return to action when he replaced Lucas in the 77th minute.

Reaction on Spurs TV

'The players gave everything'

Speaking to us at Goodison Park, Jose said: "We take the positives, and the positives were a fantastic effort by the players, fantastic attacking football from the first minute, immediately a great combination and header from Lamela and a save from Olsen. It was like that for the whole game. When we had the ball, we were really good, we were dominant, we were in control. We were the best team in my opinion, and that hurts more. The players gave everything."

Match data

Goals: Everton – Calvert-Lewin 36, Richarlison 38, 68, Sigurdsson 43 (pen), Bernard 97; Spurs – Sanchez 3, 57, Lamela 45+3, Kane 83.

Yellow cards: Everton – Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Digne, Mina; Spurs – Dele, Kane, Winks.

Referee: David Coote.

Venue: Goodison Park.

Weather: Clear sky, gentle breeze, minus-one degree.