Everton: What A Wasted Chance

We head to the Stadium of Light for the FA Cup Quarter-Final replay. Sigh!

Moyes have saved the players for this game and Everton will just need to get this correct. Up front, the manager has kept to Jelavic with Cahill supporting behind. The midfield consists of Coleman, Ossie, Felli and Drenthe. Bainesy, Heitinga, Distin and Neville together with Howard complete the team.

First opportunity for Everton in the 2nd minute. A slip by a Sunderland defender opened up acres of space for Coleman to cross. Ossie met the ball but missed the target as the ball was vey much behind him.

Sunderland has been threatening and they came up with a goal in the 10th minute. A quick freekick caught Everton unawares and the final strike saw it flew past the entire defence and into the net. Everton 0-1 Sunderland.

We have barely used the wings and we need to make use of that quick. Everton won a freekick in the 19th minute but Heitinga fluffed it. In the 24th minute, Everton drew parity! Bainesy put in a lovely cross once again and Jelavic heads it towards goal, but Cahill had other idea. He headed the ball into the other end of the goal. That totally wrong-footed the goalkeeper! Game on! Everton 1-1 Sunderland. Cahill really loves scring against Sunderland.

The game play was really fast-paced. In the 34th minute, Cahill header nearly made a difference onluy for the goalkeeper managed to punch it away from the line. The follow-up by Distin was like a defender's clearance.

Drenthe had a great opportunity with his freekick in the 42nd minute, but the crossbar denied him. What a bummer! Ossie tried his luck at goal but was pretty much a weak shot.

Everton has not shown enough guile to say that they should win the game. Sunderland had good control of the game with their rough house tackles but Everton needs to pull themselves together to win this game.

The closest Everton got to the second goal. Coleman squeezed through two defenders in the 53rd minute only to put his shot into the side netting. Another chance gone bagging with Cahill trying to curl the ball into the net. Too easy for the goalkeeper.

Everton seemed to be camping in Sunderland's half but can't get the ball into the net. Jelavic headed the ball towards goal but seemed to have stopped by a Sunderland defender's hands! Penalty not given.

Moyes took the ineffective Coleman out in his place, Magaye. Drenthe moved to his preferred right channel. But the midfielder himself was taken off as he's walking on a tightrope with all his antics and tackles. Strac was brought in.

So close. Heitinga's header was going in. Diving save. Jelavic reacted quickest but saved by the goalkeeper once again.

Score: Everton 1-1 Sunderland
Scorer: Cahill
Assist: Jelavic
Subs: Magaye, Strac