Seasons2020-21Everton News
Young Blues' dramatic last-minute cup win marred by Onyango injury
Man City U18s 0 - 1 Everton U18s

Everton's U18s pulled off a fantastic FA Youth Cup 4th Round triumph over Manchester City with a 97th-minute winner at the City Academy Stadium on Saturday afternoon but it was over-shadowed by what looks to be a season-ending injury for Tyler Onyango.
Everton had defended brilliantly with Zan-Luk Zeban making a number of fantastic saves to keep the hosts at bay which set the stage for substitute Luke Butterfield to fire home a great winner in the 7th minute of injury time.
Most that time added on had come from the lengthy stoppage required to first attend to and then stretcher Tyler Onyango off the field with a suspected leg fracture.
Onyango was bringing the ball upfield on the left when he was hacked down from behind by Alex Robertson and lay in obvious agony, grasping his lower right leg.
The referee showed Robertson a yellow card but the Everton players appeared to know what had happened and expressed their anger at the City player, who was obviously shaken and was substituted a few minutes later.
But the damage was done and Onyango, one of the stars of Everton's Academy who has already been on the bench a number of times in the Premier League, was stretchered off after a long break in play and looks set for an extended period on the sidelines as he recovers.
Everton have not yet confirmed the nature of the injury but the early diagnosis is based on a comment from David Unsworth, relayed over commentary by Nick Chadwick, who was on the sidelines as Onyango was stretchered off.
The Blues' youngsters had secured their place in the 4th Round after coming back from a 2-goal deficit to beat Wigan Athletic 4-2 after extra time in Southport last month.
Everton kicked off and tried to play the game in the City half, epitomized by excellent work from Charlie Wittaker who set up Theirry Small for a good run and shot on goal but it was blocked.
At the other end, City created a real chance but the Everton defenders reacted well to block all avenues. Another good run from Small won the first corner. Price did a short then long move but Onyango could not get enough power on his header at the far post.
A City shot from distance needed touching over by Leban, for a City corner that came to nothing. But City started to press more effectively and Everton's attempts to play out from the back were farcical at best, inviting massive pressure. Leban was out smartly to snuff out one opportunity when Issac Price was beaten to the ball.
An awful ball back from Cannon almost created havoc in the Everton defence but again they survived, looking ever shakier against the increasingly confident hosts. Cannon tried to break but McAllister's support wasn't strong enough.
Matthew Mallon rather dived in with his studs showing and got a yellow card for his troubles as Everton were forced to defend deep but effectively so far...
Tom Cannon finally got a sniff off a fine ball forward from Lewis Warrington but put far too much on his lob that beat goalie and goal. A great break led by Charlie Whittaker had the City defenders back-pedalling and his shot was just inches wide before the break.
City's pressure and dominance continued into the second half, and they eventually had the ball in the Everton net but it was ruled out by the referee for a handball from the goalscorer. Leban was the hero, making a number of excellent saves to keep Everton in the game past the hour mark.
A free-kick by Price, where he could have really created some danger in the City area, was criminally wasted, terrible delivery, setting up City for another lethal attack, with two more excellent saves from Leban.
Everton won a rare corner but it was defended away. Garcia replaced McAllister and immediately won another dangerous free-kick, delivered better this time by Whitaker. But it ended up with even more clear-cut chances for City, who still could not convert despite creating sheer chaos in the Everton area.
After Onyango's injury, City pushed and probed, winning another late corner that came to nothing as Everton blocked all avenues to goal.
A late Everton attack saw Whitaker cleverly win a corner, but Price put it too close to the City keeper and it was punched clear as the 4th official signalled 7 minutes of added time.
Price appeared to set up substitute Garcia for a chance but the Everton striker could not reach the ball. At the other end, more City chances and determined Everton defending. and another City corner defended away. It was an extremely competitive cup tie, with Everton defending to the last man, heading into extra time.
But one last Everton attack, the ball was back-heeled brilliantly by Garcia to substitute Butterfield, on for Onyango, and he made no mistake with a fantastic finish low into the corner from the dee.The tremendous result sets up a 5th Round tie at Chelsea, last season's runners-up who present potentially an even bigger hurdle than Man City, having won seven of the previous ten FA Youth Cups!!! The match is set for Saturday 17 April.
Everton U18s: Leban, Mallon [Y:28'], Welch, Campbell, Small, Warrington [Y:72'], McAllister (71' Garcia), Price, Cannon, Onyango (76' Butterfield), Whitaker.
Subs: Stewart, Lowey, Kristensen, Jagne, Metcalfe.
Reader Comments (77)
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2 Posted 03/04/2021 at 10:52:52
3 Posted 03/04/2021 at 13:53:42
I assume it's the City Academy Stadium?
4 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:02:27
5 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:05:26
6 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:08:08
7 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:08:58
8 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:16:49
9 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:18:11
10 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:22:43
11 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:23:45
12 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:47:11
It's unbelievable the facility City have. State of the art throughout. The indoor facility is also very good.
13 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:50:30
14 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:51:07
Capacity is 7,000. Of course that means nowt at the minute... but still impressive.
15 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:52:40
Our stadium news has been more than positive and Finch Farm is a top class facility, just a slight niggling shame we won't have that.
So far, impressed with young Lewis Warrington, our number 6. Also the City player Doyle.
16 Posted 03/04/2021 at 14:54:34
17 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:08:34
18 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:29:15
19 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:37:27
20 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:37:53
21 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:37:57
22 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:39:48
Still impressed with the 2 I called at half time. Lewis Warrington for us and Doyle for City.
Tongue in cheek though, get our keeper in the first team squad! Some great stops from the young man.
Garcia appears to be our U-18 Iwobi; unpredictable. Not a bad trait to have at this age.
23 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:50:20
[BRZ]
24 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:51:53
Everton finishing strongly here.
25 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:53:42
26 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:56:49
[BRZ]
27 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:57:08
Last kick of the game wins it.
28 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:58:19
29 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:58:52
Wait until the 97th plus boys and score the winner!
Very interesting game of football regardless of result.
30 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:58:56
31 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:59:06
32 Posted 03/04/2021 at 15:59:31
33 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:00:16
[BRZ]
34 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:00:24
Two subs setting up and scoring the goal.
City in 5 of the last 6 finals.
Great win built on an outstanding and disciplined defensive display.
35 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:00:28
36 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:02:14
Shame about Onyango.
37 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:02:23
38 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:05:06
Very impressed with Doyle Rob.
39 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:08:32
They should add on 1 minute for a goal, but we had 2 extra by the end.
40 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:09:24
41 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:10:21
42 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:10:59
All credit to him 😁😁
[BRZ]
43 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:11:51
The goal was excellent. Not sure if it was Canon's header at the edge of the penalty area that knocked it down to Garcia who flicks it on nicely, but Butterworth was superb taking one touch with his right foot onto his left foot and it is the speed and power of the shot that gives their keeper no chance.
Garcia when he came on helped us play further up the pitch. Lots of nuisance value this fellah.
Chelsea next round isn't it? Another serial winner of this trophy in recent years.
44 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:12:01
45 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:12:43
There were a lot of great performances today but I thought Reece Welch was superb. He was the leader at the back, marshalling the shape, marking Delap at corners, being available for Leban when needed. He looked good last season but hes maturing as a defender now. Garcia is a bundle of tricks and energy too, I wonder if he can last 90 mins know hes fully recovered from his injury.
46 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:13:46
47 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:16:24
Was that for comfort as Martinez let the defenders sleep during the actual games?
[BRZ]
48 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:20:54
City Council to build Finch Farm stadium for higher rent
Given the political events surrounding LCC in recent months and days, I wonder at the details of the proposed contract and why it never came to fruition.
49 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:27:05
Not a stadium as such Would have saved them playing games at Southport though.
50 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:34:42
51 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:38:11
Good judges of a footballer
52 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:39:35
Of course it doesn't put any youngsters in the first team... in fact the opposite: it puts one potential superstar on the sideline for months. But football is about winning as a team, and I really think that's what they are trying to instill at the Academy.
53 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:42:15
54 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:45:54
This in the Manchester Evening News:
"Just a day after Pep Guardiola name-checked several 'interesting players' in the academy to be able to fill the void that will be left by Sergio Aguero this summer, they showed they might not be able to be relied upon just yet after they crashed out of the FA Youth Cup in astonishing fashion to Everton."
Astonishing fashion! Fuck off, you Manc twats!!!
55 Posted 03/04/2021 at 16:54:49
56 Posted 03/04/2021 at 17:13:45
That clip from the Manchester Evening News Michael; of course they can't be relied upon yet. They are kids right? Lazy journalism. Not you, the MEN by the way. I know you are calling it out too.
57 Posted 03/04/2021 at 17:22:51
58 Posted 03/04/2021 at 17:25:16
Hes about 6ft 3 and will hopefully fill out a bit too. Obviously a long way to go yet for him, but hes ticking the right boxes of size, England youth, playing above his age. Hell play some more u23s games this season.
59 Posted 03/04/2021 at 17:27:04
Great for the kids, fight and work hard to stay in the game, then hopefully take your chance when it arrives, and what a brilliant strike it was by the young sub, who took his chance superbly after replacing the unfortunate Onyango.
I will be very surprised if hes broke his leg, (I really hope he hasnt) because it looked more like he turned his ankle when it got caught between the City players legs and the turf🤞.
60 Posted 03/04/2021 at 17:31:00
Our boys looked well drilled & did the job they had to. Zan Luc Leban was excellent in goal. Luke Butterfield's goal must be a contender for April's goal of the month.
61 Posted 03/04/2021 at 17:40:01
Thanks Phill, the first thing I noticed about Welch, was his composure, the second being that he also looks like he can pass the ball. You said all the back four were schoolboy footballers last season, and Ive said many times that Martin Waldron, said this was the best group of players hed ever seen at the club, although they were only under tens at the time!
62 Posted 03/04/2021 at 17:48:13
Restructure is indeed needed if this country is to release the potential of the players that are out there at scale. Today was great to watch, but unfortunately only the few will ever get to experience anything like that. I'm not saying everyone will, but we as a nation can do so much better.
I'm off rambling again, let me do a piece in the summer. Hopefully as we are planning our European travels next season.
63 Posted 03/04/2021 at 17:51:30
Whatever the outcome, I wish the young lad a speedy recovery.
[BRZ]
64 Posted 03/04/2021 at 17:58:56
Whilst in the main I empathize with your view that youth football should primarily be concerned with devlopment rather than results, for me that doesn't extend to the FA Youth Cup.
In recent years, like the FA's Blue Ribband trophy the FA Cup, this competition may have lost some of its allure, but I am sure people of a certain age group know it as a very serious competition.
Like the FA Cup it is open to all and each year attracts 400+ entrants countrywide. For professional clubs and its target age group - under 18s - it should be treated with and competed for with full respect. You surely WANT your young players to have a winning edge and mentality at this age and in this competition, or I suggest they will be destined for failure as an adult footballer.
Even today in commentary when the City player who did for Onyango was trying to apologise for his foul, the Blue commentator and former Everton player Nick Chadwick both took umbrage at it.
'That's not what the Everton academy taught me. You were taught to win, not to high five opposition players in game. Yes, shake hands at the final whistle, but don't be matey with them in-game.'
On that score, it was pleasing then to see Thiery Small in particular having none of it from the City player and telling him in no uncertain terms where to go.
As this link shows, a number of true greats have played in this competition. The list of winners in this near 70-years-old competition also shows how seriously the 'elite clubs' of English football have competed for this trophy in recent years.
65 Posted 03/04/2021 at 18:07:24
That the winning goal was scored by the substitute was poetic justice but of course no consolation to Onyango who now faces what might be a lengthy spell out of the game.
66 Posted 03/04/2021 at 18:19:09
Michael (54), The Manchester Evening News has always been a bit of a joke in Liverpool, they used to advertise it as “ Your friend dropping in “ on ITV news, thats what Scousers called their Giros in the seventies, The Manchester Evening News because it was a friend dropping in each Thursday, erm so I believe!!
67 Posted 03/04/2021 at 18:35:22
Really terrible news about Onyango. He was developing into a Fellaini-style midfield nightmare. Hopefully he hasn't broken his leg but sounds like he has.
Nice to see Garcia making a difference. It won't always come off, but attacking players need to be brave and use some imagination.
Doyle is a really good player. He'd be on the cusp of the first team for most Premier League clubs. He would be a good fit at Everton if he loses patience at Man City.
68 Posted 03/04/2021 at 18:57:47
It is a great competition and the aim of being in it is to win it. If I recall, the last time we had a run anywhere near this in the competition was when a certain Wayne Rooney introduced himself to the outside world with his "once a blue always a blue" celebration.
If any of these kids are half as good as him, I'll take them. I do like the look of Warrington.
69 Posted 03/04/2021 at 19:12:32
70 Posted 03/04/2021 at 19:19:56
71 Posted 03/04/2021 at 19:46:53
Didn't see the game, only realised it was on, too late.
72 Posted 03/04/2021 at 20:08:44
I've watched a few Everton teams at City Academy Stadium. The stadium is a real display of their commitment to, and faith in, all their football teams and the fans who watch them.
73 Posted 03/04/2021 at 20:15:15
To compare any player to The White Pele, Colin Harvey, is the top accolade for Lewis Warrington, long may he continue to progress his career at Everton.
I missed the game as I was painting the fence in view of the good weather.
Now for Palace, and a must win game for Everton.
74 Posted 03/04/2021 at 20:29:35
There is speculation of interest from other Premier league clubs. My son who reads from other more reliable sources than me thinks he could actually look to go to someone like Brentford in order to get more chance of first team football. And then there might be the prospect that he will stay.
Difficult to gauge, and I suspect the truth lies somewhere in-between. I just hope he makes a football decision whatever the outcome is.
75 Posted 03/04/2021 at 20:52:48
76 Posted 03/04/2021 at 21:40:31
But what I liked was seeing a midfielder who was always making himself available to the centre-backs and the full-backs for the short pass out. And then, a player who had to confidence or know how to either give it straight back or, turn and play forward if he knew he had time and space. Be that a long direct pass that almost put our forward in for a chance on goal in the first half or a sprayed ball out to a wide player. Good range of passing from a player who I very rarely saw stray out of that pocket of space between the more forward midfielders and the defenders. A modern day sweeper who plays in front of the defence and behind the midfield??
77 Posted 03/04/2021 at 23:36:39
I hope they come to some arrangement where he is our player, but has a couple of loans, and then maybe he can step up, save us a shed load and establish himself. Many have tried before and almost disappeared into the lower echelons of football.
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1 Posted 03/04/2021 at 10:48:06