Everton U18s 4 – 2 Ipswich Town U18s [AET]
Everton U18s produced a stunning comeback in the 5th Round of the FA Youth Cup on Thursday evening at Hill Dickinson Stadium, winning 4-2 after extra-time to seal their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
A number of players were missing from the squad: Clarke, Gardner, Olayiwola, Gokah and Dodds.
Shea Pita put Everton ahead within the first few minutes following a brilliant ball over the top from Braiden Graham, but Ipswich were quick to equalise and they added another after the half-hour mark.
But Everton never gave up and were rewarded for their valiant efforts when Braiden Graham fired in a superb strike from the edge of the Ipswich area in the 97th minute – the last chance of the game – to send the tie into extra-time.
From there, Ray Robert put the Blues ahead in the first minute of the second period of added time after a brilliant run in and cutback by Graham. A bizarre Ipswich own-goal made it four, the keeper coming out of his area and heading the ball onto his defender, it bouncing back and into the goal, securing an Everton victory, and they now progress into the last eight of the FA Youth Cup.
Everton U18s: Lukjanciks, Lambert [Y:28′] (79′ Stewart [Y:115′]), Poland [Y:54′], Evans, McEveley, Matos [Y:36′] (62′ Muurdock), Pita, Akarakiri, Loney (62′ Wren), Nsangou (55′ Robert [Y:119′]), Graham (118′ Doughty).
Subs not Used: Patrick, Billington.