Manchester City U18s 3 – 0 Everton U18s
Everton U18s were very unfairly defeated by Manchester City in the 6th Round of the FA Youth Cup tonight in Manchester after a dreadful penalty decision was soon followed by a simply astounding red card.
Keith Southern’s young Blues, who have defeated Millwall, West Ham United and Ipswich Town en route to the last eight, were looking to book their place in the semi-finals this evening.
If the U18s win, they could meet either Crystal Palace or Blackburn Rovers in the semi-finals. Palace won 3-2 at Villa last night with two stoppage-time goals and Blackburn had a late winner at Turf Moor to beat Burnley. In the last quarter-final, Man Utd play Sunderland next Wednesday.
City dominated the first half in terms of possession, but Everton kept them at bay, with 9 shots, 6 on target, to City’s 13, with 9 on target, an open-goal rebound hitting the post.
Loney stupidly pulled back an opponent for the first yellow card of the game shortly after the break. Then, just before the hour mark, Akarakiri collided with a player in the Everton area as he got a touch on the ball but the referee was determined to give City a spot-kick from which they scored after he had booked no less than three Everton players for dissent.
It then all fell apart for the Young Blues when the highly officious referee, Richie Watkins, showed Olayiwola a straight red card for absolutely nothing. He had challenged a City player after a throw-in, possibly after something the City Number 8 pointed out to the referee. Just utterly bizarre. Supposedly a high challenge but the City player never showed any sign that he had even been touched.
City finally scored from open play to effectively wrap it up against the 10 men of Everton with 15 minutes to go. And they then made it 3-0 with a tap-in.
Everton U18s: Lukjancik s, Lambert [Y:58′], Poland, Evans [Y:58], McEveley, Matos [Y:58′] (69′ Murdock), Pita (79′ Doughty), Akarakiri (79′ Wren), Loney [Y:48′] (61′ Robert), Olayiwola [R:62′], Graham (79′ Nsangou).
Subs not Used: Patrick, Brookes.