Everton U21s 8- 4 Ipswich Town U21s
A remarkable end-game for Everton U21s taking on Ipswich Town as 12 goals were scored at Goodison Park tonight in their final game of the regular Premier League 2 season, with the Young Blues still missing the cut for the playoffs.
The Young Blues have slipped down the 29-team Premier League 2 table with a run of poor results, and were in 22nd place but would move up at least two places if they win tonight.
The top 16 teams in PL2 qualify for the playoffs with a knockout format to determine the PL2 Champions.
Teams finishing 17th to 24th will play off against the Top 8 finishers in the 2025-26 Professional Development League 2 — Under-21 football’s second tier, designed for those academies with Category 2 status. The result of these playoffs will determine their national champion.
Official Members of Everton FC are able to watch a live stream of the clash on EvertonTV+.
Everton were ahead early on when Braiden Graham (7′) turned in an excellent cross from Luca Davis. But poor defending saw Ipswich Town equalise soon afterwards.
From a corner, Omari Benjamin (36′) powered home a straight-forward header to restore Everton’s lead. But the Young Tractormen pulled back another goal.
But another excellent corner was converted, this time by Kingsford Boakye (41′) and the Blues retained that lead at the half-time whistle.
Into the second half and a good move saw Ipswich Town get a third equaliser. But Omari Benhjamin made a great run into the opposition area and had his feet whipped away from under him. Braiden Graham (57′) lashed an excellent penalty home from the spot.
It was only a few minutes later that Braiden Graham (62′) got behind the Ipswich Town defence and finished with aplomb to claim a fine hat-trick.
But a terrible error by the Ipswich Town goalkeeper failing to deal with a clearance from the Everton penalty area left Braiden Graham (67′) with an empty net for his fourth and Everton’s sixth goal of the night.
A slew of changes were then made by Paul Tait. And Ipswich soon got the 10th goal of this crazy game.
The seventh Everton goal was special, however: Calum Bates (81′) with a screamer from 25 yards into the top corner of the Gwladys Street goal. Malik Olayiwola got Everton’s 8th but it was flagged offside.
However, seconds later Shea Pita did get Everton’s 8th goal! A lovely pass from Graham set him up and he picked his spot across goal, just inside the far post.
Everton U21s: G Pickford, Davis, Samuels-Smith, Welch, Thomas, Foster (70′ Olayiwola), Boakye (70′ Pita), Gomez (86′ Ebere), Benjamin, (70′ Catesby), Bates, Graham.
Subs not Used: Patrick.