Michael Kenrick 02/09/2026 12comments  |  Jump to last
Everton U21s 1 - 2 AC Milan U21s

Back to the football and Everton U21s take on AC Milan in the Premier League International Cup at Goodison Park on Wednesday night.

New signing for the Under-21s, Ezra Carrington goes straight into the starting line-up for Dave Hughes's side, with an otherwise familiar look to it. 

Everton went behind in the first half after George Pickford had saved a shot with his body but the rebound was driven in.

After hitting the bar, Braiden Graham (57') drove in a superb free-kick from 265 25 yards out, curling it around the wall and just inside the post to put Everton back in the game. 

But 20 minutes later, a poor giveaway in midfield allowed Milan to attack with pace and the ball was fired past Pickford for what would be the winner.

Everton U21s: G Pickford, Finney, Carrington (63' Van Schoor), Gardner, Thomas, Foster [Y:66'], Moses (46' Matos), J Patterson [Y:80'] (82' Aduda), Loney [Y:50'] (82' Benjamin), Brookes (63' Lambert), Graham.

Subs not Used: Barnsley, Evans. 

 

 

 

Reader Comments (12)

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John Pickles
1 Posted 02/09/2026 at 21:11:52
Scored from 265 yards out. Wow!
Dave Abrahams
2 Posted 02/09/2026 at 21:11:55
I love Braiden Graham, Michael, but that was some free kick from over a quarter of a mile from the goal!
Michael Kenrick
3 Posted 02/09/2026 at 21:13:59
Just to show how good the lad is.

We don't need no Balogun here!
Dave Abrahams
4 Posted 02/09/2026 at 21:24:26
Michael, I'm getting worried seriously because Braiden still hasn't signed a new contract and is in his final year of his last one... surely we are not going to fuck this deal up as well?

Although it could be he has been tapped up by one or two clubs of the many who know a good player when they see one!

Or Moyes is waiting ‘til Graham is 23 or 24 -- when it will be too late!
Peter Gorman
5 Posted 02/09/2026 at 21:37:17
Braiden Graham is first-team ready.

And if he isn't, he'd bloody better be.

I see James Rodriguez is available on a free, worth a punt, Dave?

We could have him and Grealish wheezing on both wings.
Keith Harrison
6 Posted 02/09/2026 at 22:12:08
Saw bits of the game.

Harvey Foster looks class to me. The next Harrison Armstrong.
Si Cooper
7 Posted 02/09/2026 at 22:36:10
Braiden Graham is probably ready in many ways but I do have concerns about his stature, which might make him vulnerable to a bad challenge in a full-on Premier League game. In an age when plenty of 16 / 17 year olds are already hulking brutes, he really does look like a rather scrawny kid.
Any comments on Carrington?
Lewis Barclay
8 Posted 02/09/2026 at 22:40:29
Fact: Braiden Graham is better than our number two striker.

Play him for 15-30 minutes for at least 5 games - his punchup against the reds... showed he's passionate and can be physical! Put Alcaraz or Grealish behind him and George and Johnson/Dibling on the wings. Give the kid a chance.

Moyes won't. Johnson upfront, Rohl on the right with Dibling getting 5 minutes. :(
Keith Harrison
9 Posted 02/09/2026 at 22:46:24
Si, 7 - I was on a phone call, so only sporadically watching with the sound off. Foster was playing 6, and he looked really good. I do like Braiden Graham as well, but unless he has a late growth spurt, his stature may count against him unless he beefs up.
Geoff Trenner
10 Posted 03/09/2026 at 07:51:00
Dave, quarter of a mile?
Dave Abrahams
11 Posted 03/09/2026 at 10:00:59
Geoff (10)Yes I was just stretching my imagination — just over an 1/8 th,of a mile !
Andy Meighan
12 Posted 03/09/2026 at 20:03:28
Never ever realised the Goodison pitch was so big.

The ginger kid popping one in from that range, that solves our striker crisis.

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