Everton's Thrilling Youth Cup Run Ended By West Brom

Everton’s thrilling FA Youth Cup run was brought to halt on Tuesday night as Paul Tait’s talented and resilient Blues side were edged out 2-1 in a pulsating quarter-final clash at West Bromwich Albion.

Having beaten Manchester City and Chelsea – who between them have won eight of the past nine editions of the competition – in the previous two rounds, Everton looked on track to claim last-four spot when Stanley Mills put the Toffees in front just after the hour mark.

But a quickfire double from West Brom’s Rico Richards and Zac Ashworth turned the game on its head and, despite a late Everton rally, the home side held out at The Hawthorns.

Everton had the game’s first clear-cut chance on 12 minutes. Sean McAllister – scorer of both the Blues’ goals in their dramatic 2-1 victory at Chelsea in the last 16 – broke forward from midfield and saw a shot deflected just wide of the post.

From the resulting corner, the Toffees worked the ball into Charlie Whitaker’s feet. The attacker turned his man before expertly chipping a cross towards Eli Campbell, who volleyed fractions over.

West Brom gradually gained a foothold in the game and Zan-Luk Leban was forced into action on 27 minutes when he kept out Jovan Malcolm’s header from six yards out.

Leban made another splendid save on the stroke of half-time when he athletically tipped Richards’ dipping strike over the crossbar.

Everton had strong appeals for a penalty shortly after the interval. Luke Butterfield did superbly to drive into the box before crossing for McAllister – the Northern Ireland youth international hammered an effort at goal from close range which was blocked by defender Ethan Ingram. The ball looked like it may have struck the West Brom player’s arm but the referee did not point to the spot.

Everton did make the breakthrough on 62 minutes. Butterfield’s low drive landed at the feet of Mills, and the midfielder took a touch to set himself before clinically slotting past Maksymilian Boruc in the West Brom goal. 

West Brom’s response was instantaneous, with Richards rifling home after Malcolm’s powerful shot was parried by Leban.

The equaliser sparked a sustained spell of pressure from the home side. Matty Mallon made goal-line clearance from Caleb Taylor’s header and Leban made a stunning point-blank save from Malcolm.

The Baggies did hit the front on 71 minutes, however, when Ashworth took aim from 20 yards and arrowed a shot into the bottom corner.

Everton pressed in search of a leveller and Thierry Small’s rising drive 10 minutes from time brought an athletic stop from Boruc.

Livewire substitute Rafael Garcia then looked to have been fouled in the penalty area by Lino Sousa only for the referee to wave play on.

Small again came close in stoppage time but his effort went fractions wide as West Brom held out to secure a semi-final place.