Everton 0, Manchester City 2 (FA Cup Quarter Final)
Goals by Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne saw off a dogged Everton after Manchester City left it late in the FA Cup quarter final.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was the first time that City had reached the semi finals of the FA Cup for three consecutive seasons since 1931/32 to 1933/34.
Everton had only failed to score in four out of 45 matches this season and they thwarted City by giving them no space to play behind a solid 5 man defence at Goodison Park.
They even had the better of the chances until late on, with Yerry Mina’s header cleared off the line by Oleksandr Zinchenko while Joao Virginia tipped away Raheem Sterling’s second half shot.
But Virginia could do nothing about Gundogan’s goal from the rebound after he tipped a shot from Aymeric Laporte onto the crossbar just 6 minutes from the end of normal time.
And De Bruyne made it 2-0 with a last minute goal on the break as City made it 25 wins from their last 26 games with Everton having to commit to attack.
City boss Pep Guardiola lavished praise on Everton who he declared, despite an injury crisis, were City’s toughest opponents of the year.
He said: “It was a really tough game, Everton were focussed and defended really aggressively.
“They used long balls up to Calvert-Lewin and used set pieces really well.
“They were so difficult to break through but in the end we won it.”
He also praised his in-form match winning player of the year so far – Ilkay Gundogan – who broke the deadlock after City had toiled for 84 minutes against the Toffees.
“Gundogan was there, he’s our top scorer but everyone is playing at a really good level.
“The last 4 months have been incredible.” declared Guardiola of City’s incredible run of form which has seen them win 25 out of their last 26 games but there will now be an International break which will see many of City’s players travelling with their national teams.
And with a pandemic affecting health, he was hopeful that his players would return in good shape for the business end of the season when City would be fighting for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies.
He said: “Let’s hope people stay healthy, I’m looking forward to everyone coming back safe.”
Guardiola made six changes from the side that cruised to victory against Borussia Monchengladbach in midweek.
Ederson, John Stones, Joao Cancelo, Rodri, Riyad Mahrez, and De Bruyne were rested with Zack Steffen, Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling, and Gabriel Jesus coming in.
Ring rusty Sterling was making his first start in four matches, while Jesus had scored 7 goals in 7 matches against the Toffees.
Everton were forced to pick 21 year old goalkeeper Joao Virginia for only his third game for the Toffees after injury ruled out Jordan Pickford and Robin Olsen.
Their threadbare squad meant the bench was also full of youngsters – six of the bench were 20 years old or under – with Carlo Ancelotti only making three changes from their defeat against Burnley last Saturday.
Everton thwart Manchester City almost till the end of their FA Cup encounter
And despite plenty of possession for City in the early stages, Everton’s rookie keeper didn’t have much to trouble him as he was well protected by a five man defence and arguably had the better chances in the final third.
Foden’s early free kick was deflected over the bar by Yerry Mina after just three minutes.
He also saw a shot charged down as City were all over Everton from the start at Goodison Park.
But Steffen was in the action after nine minutes, fouled as he parried away Lucas Digne’s cross into the City area.
Everton were quick in the tackle, matching City for tenacity despite the visitors dominating possession.
A cross from Sterling narrowly missed Jesus just after Phil Foden might have won a penalty from Mason Holgate after riding a rash tackle and refusing to go down again.
Richarlison tried a clever overhead kick which went over the bar giving City ample warning against slacking off.
City repelled a free kick and corner by Digne but Fernandinho won a free kick 25 yards out off Richarlison during a City counter.
It was well positioned for Sterling but the England winger blazed it over.
There was a chance for Everton when Steffen raced out of his box to try and beat Dominic Calvert-Lewin to the ball and needed the help of Laporte to complete the clearance.
Zinchenko had to head a goalbound header from Mina off the City line as Everton had a clear chance to score from Digne’s corner as they began to grow into the game.
City were disappointed to have ended the half with 77 percent of the possession but only one shot on target – the same as their hosts.
Sterling volleyed wildly over the bar after the restart as City continued to struggle to break down the Toffees with the spaces tight at the back for the home side.
Everton’s best chances still came from set pieces – Richarlison shot wide after Sigurdsson’s long range free kick into the area wasn’t cleared.
And Virginia kept them in it with a fingertip save after Fernandinho cut the ball back to Sterling for a shot which went very close after 58 minutes.
With City needing to unlock the dogged Everton defence, Mahrez was introduced to the fray – coming on for Bernardo Silva.
Foden went more central and hit a long range shot just wide of the back post and out of Virginia’s reach.
And Gomes’ shot across the area was almost perfect for Mina but the big Everton defender couldn’t get his head on it.
Calvert-Lewin tried to find Richarlison in the box but while the ball appeared to hit Ruben Dias’ elbow no penalty was given.
And the big striker was denied by a great covering tackle by Dias as he tried to break free with a run down the left flank.
De Bruyne came on for Sterling with 10 minutes to go and Virginia dropped low to save Foden’s late shot.
And the breakthrough came with 6 minutes to go when Laporte’s fierce shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Virginia after De Bruyne was brought down on the edge of the area with Ilkay Gundogan following through convert the rebound with a flying header.
It was the 12th goal of the year for the incredible German – who has 16 in all this season – and his first headed goal for the club since December 2018 against Crystal Palace.
Mason Holgate was immediately replaced by Alex Iwobi as Everton had to go on the offensive.
Gundogan was replaced by Rodri as City used their final change to stiffen up midfield in the last minute of normal time.
And De Bruyne smashed in City’s second after Rodri intercepted Mina’s header and threaded the ball to the Belgian who did the rest under pressure from Godfrey for his 7th goal of the season.
Foden and Fernandinho failed to make more of injury time chances for City but the game was over.
GOALS – Everton 0, Manchester City 2 (FA Cup Quarter Final)
Everton 0, Man City 1: 84. Ilkay Gundogan’s flying header went in after Aymeric Laporte took the loose ball and saw his fierce shot tipped onto the crossbar by Virginia only for the German to head the rebound home.
Everton 0, Man City 2: 90. Kevin De Bruyne finished off the Toffees with a quick counter attacking goal after Rodri intercepted Yerry Mina’s headed clearance and put the Belgian through.
MATCH STATS – Everton 0, Manchester City 2 (FA Cup Quarter Final)
Everton: Virginia, Holgate (Iwobi 87), Mina, Godfrey, Coleman, Gomes, Allan, Digne, Sigurdsson, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison
Everton Subs not used: Tyrer, Leban, Keane, Nkounkou, Davies, Broadhead, John, Onyango
Bookings: Allan 23 (foul on Ilkay Gundogan); Gomes 75 (foul on Phil Foden)
Man City: Steffen, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko, Gundogan (Rodri 90), Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva (Mahrez 64), Sterling (De Bruyne 80), Foden, Jesus
Man City subs not used: Ederson, Stones, Aguero, Torres, Mendy, Cancelo
Booking: Fernandinho (foul on Richarlison 57)
Goals: Gundogan 84; De Bruyne 90
Referee: Michael Oliver