Saha secures semis as Everton dump out Middlesbrough

Niumonne

Editor

posted on 15 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

43
views

Everton are in their first FA Cup semis since they won the competition in 1995.

New Delhi: Everton progress to their first FA Cup semi-final since they won the competition in 1995 thanks to goals from Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha. Middlesbrough opened the scoring with David Wheater but couldn’t hold out to secure the win.

A windswept Goodison Park hosted the first ever FA Cup quarter-final for Everton manager David Moyes. His Everton side was struggling with injuries whilst Gareth Southgate named the same starting eleven that had beaten Liverpool 2-0 but also succumbed to Spurs 4-0 midweek.

Middlesbrough made the early inroads. Tuncay Sanil combined well with Stewart Downing who sent a deep cross into the box. Goalkeeper Tim Howard inexplicably opted to pursue the ball and ended up the righthand edge of his box tipping the ball away from Gary O’Neil. Middlesbrough failed to capitalise on his odd positioning and Howard eventually gathered.

Tim Cahill was caught offside as Marouane Fellaini flicked the ball on from a Joseph Yobo long ball forward. Middlesbrough were definitely playing the more adventurous football in the opening stages.

Jeremie Aliadiere wasted a good opportunity with ten minutes on the clock. Justin Hoyte played the ball to Matthew Bates on the right, Bates charged to the byline and cut the ball back to the former Arsenal forward. Aliadiere snatched at his shot a little and it cleared the crossbar without troubling Howard from ten yards.

With 15mins gone a Leighton Baines free-kick taken from the left picks out Fellaini who header veers goal wards. It meets Bates en-route and is cleared before Leon Osman manages to engineer an opening, his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Yobo headed the ball straight at Brad Jones from the ball in and it was a comfortable save for the Australian international.

Everton weathered the early spell of Middlesbrough pressure and began growing into the game, showing some lovely interchange in midfield. The 24th minute saw a lovely passing move come to an end when Cahill was dispossessed by David Wheater.

Middlesbrough ventured forward again on the half an hour mark. Tuncay played a good ball into the box for Aliadiere who did well to latch onto it but an awkward bounce delayed the striker’s shot and Yobo was able to get back in a make a challenge. It was good play from Middlesbrough.

Fellaini had a good chance in the 40th minute, Osman crossed in from the right to the Belgian at the back post. Fellaini drew a good save from Jones who conceded a corner. When the cross came in Fellaini impinged Huth, who had his arms all over the Everton midfielder.

Minutes later and Middlesbrough were in front. Aliadiere sent in a cross from the right and it was met by Wheater with a solid header, it was straight at Howard but the American made a complete hash of it. He managed to clear but only after it was two yards over the line. Middlesbrough went into the break one goal to the good.

The second half saw the introduction of Louis Saha who replaced Jack Rodwell but it was Middlesbrough that opened the attacking with Aliadiere spurning a great opportunity to double the lead for Southgate’s side. Downing crossed in from the left and Aliadiere drilled his shot against Joleon Lescott when he should have done better.

Middlesbrough were made to rue this missed opportunity as in the 49th minute Everton drew level through Fellaini. Phil Neville crossed in from the right and Fellaini rose above Huth. His looping header caught out Jones, who was in no-man’s-land, and trickled into the Middlesbrough net.

Moyes’ halftime substitute then struck for the Toffees. Steven Pienaar chased down the ball on the left, cut back onto his right foot, and then lofted a lovely cross into the front post area. Saha ran onto the ball, getting ahead of Jones, and dinked his header into the gaping net. It was two goals in six minutes for Everton.

It was nearly three for Everton in the 64th minute, following a tangle of bodies flying into a challenge Everton were awarded a free-kick. Baines stepped up and sent his effort over the assembled wall. It rattled the crossbar with Jones a mere spectator.

Everton were threatening again in the 75th minute with Osman driving in well from the right. The midfielder was fouled but the referee played a good advantage as Pienaar drove into the box. His shot was well saved by Jones and it was good alert play by the South African.

Saha showed his class, almost threading through Fellaini moments later, the pass didn’t come off and Jones collected. Moments later, Fellaini did well to win the ball back, combined well with Pienaar before rolling the ball to Saha. The Frenchman’s shot was deflected wide. Great play from Everton.

Tuncay had an opportunity in the 81st minute following a hopeful ball forward but a good block by Lescott denied the Turkish striker. The English defender did well to snuff out the danger.

Middlesbrough continued to push as the 90th minute approached. Downing saw a hopeful effort from the right fly high and wide. Minutes later Downing was involved again, driving down the right and squaring to substitute Marvin Emnes. The Dutchman sent his shot against Lescott and the chance was wasted.

Saha had a great opportunity to finish the game off, Osman did well on the right to turn in midfield and release Phil Jagielka on the right. The England international cut the ball back to Saha who had time to take a touch to settle himself. The Frenchman then skied his shot over the bar.

Howard almost conspired to lose the game for his side, a relatively straightforward free-kick was spilled by the American and Lescott pounced on the rebound just as Emnes was about to release the trigger.

Everton managed to see the game out and put themselves into the hat for the first FA Cup semi-final of David Moyes’ tenure and Everton's first since they won the cup in 1995. Middlesbrough will return to their relegation scrap, they are currently two points from survival.