Tottenham Hotspur U21s 1 – 2 Everton U21s
Everton U21s pulled off a fantastic win over PL2 leaders Spurs this afternoon at their training ground after the game was switched from Stevenage due to a waterlogged pitch.
With all 26 Category A Development teams in Premier League 2 now listed in one big table, Everton were languishing in 25th place, somewhat surprisingly above bottom-placed Manchester City, who normally put in a strong showing at Academy level.
Everton had won 2 and drawn 3 of their previous 13 games so far, and faced perhaps their biggest challenge this afternoon. The lineup featured a new name, trialist 18-year-old Welsh forward Omari Benjamin, whose family hails from Barbados; he has been on the books of Arsenal’s academy.
Spurs took an early lead after Okoronkwo had to be substituted in the 2nd minute after sustaining a hamstring injury, but Tyler Onyango put the Blues back on level terms before the half-time break.
And in the second half, as Spurs had their goalkeeper dismissed on the hour for denying a goalscoring opportunity, new boy Omari Benjamin scored Everton’s second 10 minutes later to secure an unimaginable win at the home of the PL2 leaders.
Everton U21s: Barnsley, Onyango (66′ Armstrong), Hunt, Welch, Jones, Warrington, Whitaker (46′ Djankpata [Y:87′]), Metcalfe, Okoronkwo (2′ Kouyate), John, Benjamin (74′ Heath).
Subs not Used: G Pickford.