Bernard goes extra mile for Toffees to settle thriller
EVERTON 5 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4
IN A week of underwhelming FA Cup ties Everton and Tottenham produced a classic – even if neither manager will have been pleased that it went to extratime.
It was a tie that swung wildly only for Bernard, who looked destined to leave Everton less than a fortnight ago, to settle matters seven minutes into extratime after a mesmerising opening 90 minutes ended four goals apiece.
Harry Kane came off the bench to draw Spurs level at 4-4 and force the extra 30 minutes as they fought for a place in the last eight, but Bernard, whose transfer-window move to Dubaibased Al Nasr fell through, had the final say.
Cup competitions mean much to both these managers and Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho fielded strong teams as a sign of their intent.
Everton will nevertheless fret about an injury to their star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
To add to the drama Gareth Bale was left out of the Tottenham squad, with Mourinho cryptically saying he was not injured before adding: “He’s not on the bench because he wasn’t happy with his training session yesterday. I would not say an injury, just some feelings he was not happy with so it was better to stay and work with the sports science guys.”
Spurs hit Everton early and hit them hard. In the first minute they were only denied by goalkeeper Robin Olsen with a wonderful one-handed save, as he kept out Erik Lamela’s downward header – and by the fourth minute they were in front.
Son Heung-min took a corner with Davinson Sanchez meeting it unchallenged – Gylfi Sigurdsson was at fault – to head home.
Everton looked short of ideas but they burst into life with half-time approaching. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg gave the ball away deep on the left and it was quickly transferred to Calvert-Lewin who smashed in a half-volley for his 50th Everton goal.
While the visitors were still reeling from that, Richarlison scored with a shot through the legs of Toby Alderweireld and Sigurdsson sent Lloris the wrong way from the penalty spot after Hojbjerg clipped Calvert-Lewin.
Spurs responded with the last kick of the half as Mina dangled a leg at a Son through ball and Lamela clipped a shot over Olsen.
Eight minutes into the second half Mourinho sent on Kane but while Spurs were introducing one England striker, Everton were losing another, with Calvert-Lewin heading straight down the tunnel with an injury.
Sanchez reacted quickest when Olsen parried Alderweireld’s header to make it 3-3, before Richarlison, up front in the absence of Calvert-Lewin, clinically dispatched Sigurdsson’s through ball from a narrow angle.
Defending set-pieces continued to be a problem for Everton so it was no surprise to see Kane diving in at the far post to nod in Son’s perfect cross.
Spurs substitute Dele Alli’s main contribution on his first appearance since the third-round win at non-league Marine was to be booked for diving in the penalty area as the game went to extra-time only for another substitute Bernard to settle it with a well-worked goal. (© Telegraph Media Group Limited, 2021)