Everton Under-21s produced a spirited display in the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday evening, but fell to 4-2 defeat to Crystal Palace Under-21s at Selhurst Park.

The win for the Eagles – last year’s runners-up in the competition – sees them advance to the last two, where they’ll take on reigning champions PSV Eindhoven in a rematch of the 2022/23 final.

Franco Umeh-Chibueze fired the hosts into the lead – just moments before a closely-contested 45 minutes came to an end. Palace then added a second not long after the restart, when their number nine – a trialist for the evening – combined with first-half goalscorer Umeh-Chibueze to double the home side’s advantage.

Jenson Metcalfe - excellent throughout - pulled one back for Everton just after the hour-mark. His low ball into the box bounced beyond everyone, including goalkeeper Joe Whitworth, who could only watch as the Toffees halved the deficit.

Full-back Danny Imray struck a third to deny the Blues of a quick comeback, with his near-post finish making it 3-1 to Palace.

Sealing his brace, Metcalfe converted from the spot-kick to keep the Blues in the game, before Palace added a fourth through Justin Devenny during the final moments of an action-packed and entertaining second half.

Reacting to the game, Head Coach Paul Tait told evertonfc.com: "I felt in the second half, the fightback was good. The spirit was there. I thought the lads had a real go.

"There was nothing in the game in the first half, and then we gave a goal away just before half-time, which is a bit of a killer for any team. We showed a good response every time, and we looked more of a threat in the second half.

"I said to them in there that they’re learning and it’s part of their development. It feels like a missed opportunity, but they gave us everything: the character, fight, and resilience they showed."

The Blues’ unbeaten run to the semi-final stage saw them face Under-21s opposition from Athletic Bilbao, Monaco, Feyenoord, and Benfica in the group stage, before beating Fulham in the quarter-finals.

For the semi-final encounter, Tait made four changes to the starting line-up who were narrowly defeated by Blackburn Rovers in the league on Friday evening, with Mackenzie Hunt, Lewis Warrington, Luke Butterfield, and goalkeeper Billy Crellin all coming into the side.

Everton’s first chance came after 12^th minutes, when Metcalfe spotted goalkeeper Whitworth off his line, before aiming an ambitious effort from long range, sending the ball just inches over the Palace bar.

Another opportunity followed after just five more minutes. Warrington produced a lofted through ball to find Roman Dixon down the right channel, and he crossed into the box, but strikes from Katia Kouyate and Hunt were both mis-hit inside the hosts’ penalty area.

A quiet half ended looked to be coming to a close, but the home side struck an opener just a couple of minutes from the interval.

Devenny kickstarted a fast-paced Palace move, running up the field, before playing in their number nine – the trialist for the Eagles. He entered the left side of the penalty area, occupying centre-back duo Tyler Onyango and Reece Welch, and then squared the ball to find Umeh-Chibueze in space. His first-time strike from close range flew past Crellin to put his side into the lead.

The hosts picked up from where they left off in the second half, doubling their advantage through their trialist. Pinching the ball off Kouyate near the edge of the Eagles’ 18-yard-box, his interception was the catalyst for a rapid counter-attack.

Carrying the ball down the pitch, he then passed down the left wing to teammate and goalscorer Umeh-Chibueze, who took a touch, before finding the trialist with a low cross, and he clinically finished to make it 2-0.

The Toffees pulled one back on 62 minutes, when Metcalfe’s low cross found its way through the bodies in the Palace penalty area, evading everyone, and bouncing into the back of the hosts’ net.

However, hopes of getting level were quickly shot down by Palace’s Imray after 70 minutes. Devenny had been found in the right channel, and he slid in Imray, who produced a delicate near-post finish to chip the ball past Crellin.

Minutes later, Whitworth was on hand to deny long-range efforts from both Kouyate and Metcalfe, making strong saves to keep the scoreline at 3-1.

Involved in the action once again, Metcalfe was then brought down in the penalty area, fouled by second-half substitute Noah Watson in the 84^th minute.

He confidently stepped up and produced an assured finish from 12 yards, but – despite Everton’s admirable efforts – the Blues couldn’t find an equaliser, and Devenny’s stoppage-time strike finalised the victory for the home team, who’ll be heading for the Premier League International Cup final.