Rafa Benitez’s blues booked their place into the fourth round with a 3-2 victory against Hull City but needed extra time to do so.
Hull City got off to a flying start scoring inside a minute thanks to a header from Tyler Smith after a free-kick.
Everton were all over the place for the first 15 minutes and were lucky to still be in it.
Demarai Gray got the equaliser in the 21st minute after some quick and neat interplay with Anthony Gordon which got him in on goal before he calmly slotted the ball home.
Ten minutes later Everton had completely turned it round as Andre Gomes fiercely met Jonjoe Kenny’s cross which was powerful enough to beat Hull City goalkeeper Nathan Baxter.
After half-time The Blues looked like they had all the spirt and looked likely to finish the tie off but with twenty minutes to go Ryan Longman had other ideas.
The midfielder curled in a fabulous effort on the edge of the box right into the top left corner out of Asmir Begovic’s reach.
At this point it was very much game on.
Grant McCann’s side hit the post and could so nearly have won it but the game ended up going to extra time.
Nine minutes into the extra half an hour substitute Andros Townsend won the game for Everton with a long range effort of his own.
The ball swerved all over the place making it hard for Baxter but realistically he should have done better.
Both sides looked leggy, and it was no shock that Hull could not mount another fightback for an equaliser.
Therefore, the road to Wembley for Everton is underway!
Player ratings:
Asmir Begovic: 8
Made five saves with one in the second half of extra time which will go down as one of the stops of the tournament.
Jonjoe Kenny: 5
Great cross to set up Gomes for Everton’s second goal. Other than that did not offer too much going forward.
Seamus Coleman: 6
Fourth time starting as a centre back done a decent enough job once the horror show start was out the way.
Michael Keane: 6
Nearly scored after some positive ball carrying out from the back and ran into the box. His effort was parried wide. Was always trying to play even though some passes were wayward.
Ben Godfrey: 5
Again like his centre back partners there was good ball carrying out of the back but looked a bit exposed down the left at times.
Vitaliy Mykolenko: 6
Done a decent enough job on his debut to say he hadn’t trained in 15 days. Made a vital goaline clearance in the first half which saved Everton.
Allan: 5
Had his tenacity and eagerness to not stop running back today which are his best attributes. Although he was poor on the ball.
Andre Gomes: 7
After the first poor 15 minutes which everyone in blue had he ran the game in the middle showing his class. Showcased fight and determination to meet the ball with his head for the second Everton goal.
Anthony Gordon: 7
Great interplay with Gray to set up Everton’s first goal. Hit the post not long after and created a big chance for Keane. Carried on his good form.
Demarai Gray: 7
Exquisite goal to get Everton back in the contest. Looked like The Toffees main threat all game which is no surprise. Could and probably should have had another goal.
Salomon Rondon: 4
Much better hold-up play today but still a lot of other elements of his game weren’t great like his shooting with his only effort off target by some distance.
Substitutions:
Andros Townsend (Anthony Gordon 66): 7
Winning goal with a long-range effort which moved in the air to confuse the goalkeeper even though he should have done better with the effort.
Abdoulaye Doucoure (Jonjoe Kenny 74): 6
Important prescence in the middle of the park gave The Blues energy.
Jean-Phillipe Gbamin (Andre Gomes 88): 4
Fresh legs in midfield for extra time.
Lewis Dobbin (Demarai Gray 105): 5
Was very lively and agile which begs the question why he hasn’t he featured more?
Cenk Tosun (Salmon Rondon 117): N/AHad one shot on target.
