FA CUP: EVERTON (2) vs (1) MIDDLESBOROUGH - FULL TIME

Felli scores the first goal
Photo courtesy of www.evertonfc.com

The Everton team remains pretty unchange from the victory against WBA. Within the 1st minute, Boro puts Everton in an early pressure and the pressure continues even into the 12th minute. Everton don't seem to be warming up as yet.

Everton had a couple of chances from Felli's header, to Ossie strike from outside the box, but the ball was always cleared away. Yobo even had a free header in the 16th minute, but it was easily saved by the opposing goalkeeper. But shortly after that, Boro goes back into the ascension once again.

In the 30th minute, Yobo stopped the opposing striker from scoring with a brilliant stop. Everton has still not really gone off the blocks. Do they not want to play in the FA Semis? They already know they will face either Arsenal, Manchester United or Chelsea. Not easy teams by any means. Good header by Felli in the 40th minute. Saved by the goalkeeper.

Ok, Everton is one goal down. No surprises. Everton 0-1 Boro. We need Saha to be out there to create the chances. Everton was totally flat!

Tactical change at the start of the 2nd half with Saha coming in for Rodwell and Everton goes level in the 49th minute. Timmy has been asked to pull the strings in midfield and from his cross from the right channel, Felli raises highest to put a header beyond the opposing goalkeeper. Everton 1-1 Boro. Assist by Timmy. Everton fans have now gotten their voices back and are asking the questions.

And did I say? Saha scores in the 55th minute. Ossie puts a cross in, but was cleared only as far as Pienaar. The midfielder put a cross in and a stealthy Saha glanced the ball into the net. Everton 2-1 Boro. Assist by Pienaar.

A free kick in the 63rd minutge and Bainsey hits the bar and the ball goes out of play. Timmy is holding the midfield rather well with Felli playing more ofthe supportive role to Saha. Lovely play all round, but the fear now is that the Everton players are going into a lull once again.

All so open for Saha in the 87th minute! But he just couldn't score! and Saha had another 1-on-1 chance in the 88th minute but the goalkeeper stopped Saha's advance. From a Boro free kick in the 89th minute, Howard's mishandled the ball and it so nearly crept into goal if not for Lescott's clearance.

Boro wins a corner in the final minute of the four minutes injury time. The Boro goalkeeper was running towards the goal, but the referee blew the whistle before the goalkeeper could try his chance, and Everton is through to the semi-finals!

Score: Everton 2-1 Boro
Scorer: Felli, Saha
Assist: Timmy, Pienaar
Subs: Saha, Gosling

BORO (0) vs (1) EVERTON - FULL TIME

This was one match that Singapore was not showing live. So I caught the game only this morning. Why I'd wanted to catch this game was not because of Timmy's goal, but it was because of Dan Gosling who was making his Everton debut. Ossie wasout of this match with a bruising ankle courtesy of the bruiser, John Terry in the previous match, while the entire strike force is out injured.

Anichebe made it to the bench but did not start as Moyes may not want to throw him in the deep end and then risking losing the one and only striker who has just came back from his back problem.

Everton gave a pretty good account of themselves with Pienaar making a nuisance of himself on the left wing. Fellaini earned his customary yellow card once again with multiple man-handling incidents. But the giant Fellaini still made sure he ruled the air above 6 feet. Arteta was his usual enterprising self and created much chaos when he takes his free kicks and corners. He has even added winning headers to his resume. Bainsey has shown why he's such a good player and I really hope Moyes won't sell him off in Jan 09. Hibbo is in his normal dogged style and the defence of Jag and Lescott did not make any major boo-boo. Timmy, toiling on his own, also made sure Everton took the lead.

A sweet cross by Arteta, headed down by Lescott. Timmy took two bites at the cherry - one was blocked by the defender, the second was when the opposing goalkeeper had to pick the ball out of the net. As for Gosling, it was a pretty ok start on the right wing. He chased every ball, and he even tracked back and tackled opposing striker. With more composure, he would have scored three goals with the position that he was in.

Though Boro continued to attack, their moves were mostly muted by the team's good inter-play. Another good win, another away win.

Score: Boro 0-1 Everton
Scorer: Timmy
Assist: Lescott
Subs: Nil

EVERTON (1) vs (1) BORO - FULL TIME

This was one game that Everton lost their lead early in the game and was forced to chase the game throughout.

As hard as Everton pressed, Boro's defence was no push-over and they continued to soak the pressure while keeping Everton frustrated.

EVERTON vs MIDDLESBOROUGH - FULL TIME

It's wonderful to see three important players back for Everton. Tim Howard is back in goal while Everton creative dynamo Mikel Arteta is also back in the team. Also, Stubbsy. the rock of Everton's defence has also return to the first XI.

And would you believe it, Everton has taken the lead with the club's top scorer - our defender Lescott. The players had not given boro the time to settle and with the first corner of the game, Arteta curled the ball beautiful into the path of Yakubu who headed the ball towards goal. The opposing defenders cleared the ball weakly and it made it to the head of Lescott. 1-0.

Boro is not lying down. They have made a couple of forays into the Everton goal-mouth. One of their shots even hit the cross bar. Boro continued to pressure Everton and the host seemed to be soaking it in albeit nervously.

The Toffees are not doing themselves any favour by not scoring the second goal.

The second half was no different. Everton somehow did not looked as confident. But against the run of play, Everton scored once again. Pienaar worked doggedly for the team. It was from his retrieval in Boro's half that sparked the attack. A nice pass from Faddie, led to Pienaar flicking the ball to Arteta. The midfielder danced his way into the opposing penalty area and seemed to scare the wits out of Boro's defence. Arteta then dispatched a mice grounder into the penalty area which saw Pienaar sliding in. 2-0.

Two goals up but the performances of some players seemed wanting. Yakubu for one seemed like a lazy blob lumbering around the opposition's penalty area and waiting for the balls to be fed to his feet. The midfield of Neville and Jag had seen many mis-placed passes. They looked totally off-colour.

Moyes brought on Anichebe for Yakubu and the youngster definitely looked more hungry than the lazy blob. Faddie was also taken out for the team to play a 4-5-1 formation. Not very pretty, but clever to congest the midfield area.

The fianl change was to rest Arteta who has been instrumental in Everton's win, with Cars. Also, Howard has to be thanked for Everton's first clean sheet as well. Arteta gets my vote for Man-of-the-match.

Score: Everton 2-0 Aston Villa
Scorer: Lescott, Pienaar
Assist: Arteta (2)
Subs: Anichebe, Yobo, Cars

EVERTON vs MIDDLESBOROUGH - Preview

Everton has been on poor form recently. With the win against Sheffield Wednesday, it is hoped that the club has turned the corner. Also, it's Boro, and not some difficult clubs such as Liverpool or Chelsea. So the club should make full use of home advantage.

Yakubu will be facing his former club and the opposing fans will not give him an easy time. But there is a high chance that he will score, and also Moyes will most likely play Faddie as he is in rich vein of scoring magnificant goals, and also match winners.

BUT! it all depends if Arteta will be back for the team.

Predictor: Everton 1-0 Middlesborough