Louis Saha stepped from the bench to book Everton a semi-final berth at the expense of Middlesbrough.
Everton book semi-final berth with hard-fought win
Louis Saha stepped from Everton's substitutes' bench to book David Moyes' side a semi-final berth as they came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at Goodison Park. Despite arriving on Merseyside entrenched in the Premier League drop zone, Middlesbrough played with no little confidence and enterprise in a first half that saw them forge ahead through David Wheater's header from Matthew Bates' delivery from the right. Everton in contrast were positively languid in their exertions and at half-time an exasperated Moyes had seen enough and called for Saha to beef up his insipid attack alongside Tim Cahill. If Tim Howard may feel a little disappointed about his efforts for Wheater's goal, his Boro counterpart Brad Jones will be distraught about Marouane Fellaini's leveller. Cahill's drifted cross caught Jones in no-man's land in the centre of his box, as Fellaini was able to float his header over the top of the Australian and into the goal five minutes after the restart. Just six minutes later Middlesbrough's frailty in the air was exposed again. After failing to clear a cross from the right, Steven Pienaar collected possession on the opposite flank before planting a neat cross onto the head of Saha, who made no mistake in guiding the ball past Jones. Leighton Baines then rattled the frame of Jones' goal with a sumptuous curling free-kick, as Everton quelled intermittent pressure late on to book a place in the last four.Boro bullish
Middlesbrough opened up with a pace and movement that surprised Everton and had them defending in depth. Howard had to race from his line to punch the ball off Jeremie Aliadiere's head before Joseph Yobo charged down a Stewart Downing drive. And Boro should have been ahead after 10 minutes. Justin Hoyte's astute pass sent Bates into the box. But when the midfielder's pass was laid back invitingly, Aliadiere wastefully lifted his effort over the bar from 12 yards. Everton's first chance came when Joseph Yobo jumped at the near post to send in a header from Leon Osman's corner that was held by keeper Brad Jones. Osman saw a 15-yarder deflected for a corner and from Pienaar's flag-kick the ball flashed across goal and just wide of the far post. But Everton chances were minimal as the game was becoming a war of attrition between Cahill and Fellaini and Boro central defenders Robert Huth and Wheater.Battle
Referee Mark Halsey was left to adjudicate as the collisions continued between the foursome, not always to the liking of Everton's fans. Cahill looked to have been pushed off the ball by Wheater after 40 minutes in the box but penalty appeals were turned down. Then Jones needed to dive low to his right to turn away a Fellaini header from Phil Jagielka's cross. But a minute from the break Middlesbrough were ahead. Bates crossed from the right and Wheater rose above Everton's defence to send a downward header that Howard got a hand to but could not keep out despite a desperate attempt to claw the ball back from behind the line. Everton took off Jack Rodwell at the break and sent Saha on with Cahill moving back into his more orthodox midfield role. And Boro could have had a second soon after the break when Tuncay Sanli's cross was met by Aliadiere in the six-yard box but his shot was deflected just wide. But Everton levelled after 50 minutes. Cahill's long cross swirled into the box and Fellaini jumped to head home. Jones, having started to advance to meet the ball, stopped allowing the ball to loop over his head. Six minutes later Everton were ahead. Pienaar crossed from the left and Saha arrived at the near post to glance another header wide of the stranded Jones. Baines almost made it three after 64 minutes, curling a free-kick against the bar after Cahill had been fouled on the edge of the box.Deflated
Boro sent on Marvin Emnes for Aliadiere after 68 minutes but Boro were looking deflated and Bates was flattened by a ferocious tackle from the excellent Phil Neville. Bates soldiered on for a few more minutes but was soon replaced by Adam Johnson. Pienaar and Saha combined to give Fellaini the chance for a shot that was deflected just wide, Everton striving to settle the tie with Boro still rocking. Saha could have settled it when presented with a clear chance by Osman's pass. Everton were not there yet with Howard spilling a Gary O'Neil free-kick in injury-time but Joleon Lescott came to the rescue by hooking clear.| Everton | Team Statistics | Middlesbrough |
| 2 | Goals | 1 |
| 0 | 1st Half Goals | 1 |
| 5 | Shots on Target | 3 |
| 4 | Shots off Target | 2 |
| 5 | Blocked Shots | 5 |
| 8 | Corners | 3 |
| 17 | Fouls | 10 |
| 2 | Offsides | 2 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 61.4 | Passing Success | 66.4 |
| 21 | Tackles | 12 |
| 76.2 | Tackles Success | 83.3 |
| 54.6 | Possession | 45.4 |
| 48.2 | Territorial Advantage | 51.8 |