Nerveless Vardy shatters Everton
Brendan Rodgers is now chasing glory on multiple fronts this season but it needed a penalty shoot-out to halt Everton’s revival under Duncan Ferguson.
Rodgers has been masterminding a Premier League title challenge but also continued his remarkable run in domestic cup ties and has not lost in 29 matches since 2015, such was his success at Celtic.
His Leicester City team looked to be cruising towards the Carabao Cup semi-finals, through goals from James Maddison and Jonny Evans, but Ferguson is producing some memorable matches.
Tom Davies raised hopes by pulling a goal back, then Leighton Baines levelled at the death with a spectacular drive.
They may have gone out on penalties, with Jamie Vardy sealing Leicester’s victory and a semi-final against Aston Villa, but momentum under Ferguson is still there as Goodison Park rocked and the caretaker celebrated with the ballboys. Carlo Ancelotti, should a deal be sorted for the Italian to take charge, will find players with confidence renewed, despite the heartbreak of losing out in this way.
“They are gutted,” said Ferguson. “There are a lot of tears in the dressing room because it was a big chance for us to get to a semi-final.
“I thought it was written in the stars – with Leighton’s goal – but it wasn’t to be. It was hard to take. We’ve still got momentum and need to crack on for the weekend.”
For a team trying to close a 10-point gap on Liverpool at the top, there was no suggestion, in this game, that Leicester were concentrating on the Premier League. Vardy was given the nod up front after being rested in the previous two rounds, with the Premier League’s top scorer chasing down Everton defenders and creating plenty of problems.
Their initial threat came down the right flank through the pace of Ricardo Pereira, who is earning a reputation as a dependable attacking full-back. The Portuguese defender helped set up the opener with a run that ended with him picking out Maddison just inside the penalty area.
He took one touch with his left foot, before curling the ball into the bottom corner with the outside of his right.
Maddison, who has now scored in every Carabao Cup game he has played in this season, also helped create the goal that doubled Leicester’s lead shortly after. The England midfielder whipped in a corner and his team-mates’ movement did the rest. Vardy flicked the ball on as he dashed to the near post, with Evans at the back post to tap home from a yard.
“We could have had more than two goals and should have gone 3-0 up but we waited on the game a bit,” Rodgers said. “At the end you’re wondering how we didn’t close it out. We are a team that imposes themselves but very quickly you see how the game can change.”
Everton’s fightback started when Ferguson sent on Moise Kean for another go as an impact substitute. At the weekend he came off the bench and lasted 19 minutes, with Ferguson claiming he struggled with the pace of the game.
Davies volleyed home from a Richarlison cross and the home crowd was given some hope. Off came Ferguson’s blazer and Everton looked like a different team, creating chances and eventually forcing penalties.
Baines, making his first start of the season, found the top corner in stoppage time with a drive from 25 yards to complete the comeback.
Kasper Schmeichel saved from Cenk Tosun and Baines in the shoot-out. Maddison had his effort saved but it did not matter as Vardy netted.
Regardless of defeat, Ferguson said: “I’m proud of the work that I’ve done but proud of the players more. Coaches don’t win football matches. They’ve given me every ounce of energy they’ve had.”
Ferguson expects to be in the dugout for the game against Arsenal on Saturday, but beyond that, he said: “I don’t know 100 per cent. I have talked to the owners and the directors. I would think I would be in for Saturday because of the quick turnaround.”
Leicester had not reached the semi-finals of the competition since lifting the trophy in 2000. Winning the Premier League may have topped anything the club has achieved, but the Carabao Cup is the chance for Rodgers’ new crop of players to get up and running as winners.
“We just have to fight,” Rodgers said. “We are not entitled to win. As long as we can make progress and develop, it will be great. If you can win a trophy, it gives you that hunger for more.”
Everton
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