SOCCER/Everton 3 Aston Villa 1:THERE ARE some days when everything drops inexplicably yet perfectly into place. Not even tempting fate by asking their FA Cup-winning former captain Dave Watson to parade the trophy at Goodison Park could derail Everton's appointment with such an experience yesterday.
David Moyes woke up on the morning of this encounter with Aston Villa fearing his depleted team were reliant on one inexperienced youngster too many and unaware that, after a night spent with an ice-pack on his injured thigh, Tim Howard had ruled himself back into contention. One inspired display later, with Howard, Victor Anichebe, Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling to the fore, and the Scot had reached the FA Cup quarter-final for the first time in almost seven years as Everton manager. Even Moyes had to admit to incredulity at the progress. “I thought this could be one bridge too far with the amount of injuries we had,” said Moyes. “I had to bring a lot of young lads in and I thought it could be too much.”
Everton will reward Rodwell with a new five-year contract this week but after 14 years without a trophy or a visit to Wembley, they had the breaks and the belief to hope for even greater dividends.
For Martin O’Neill, however, a defining week in Aston Villa’s season could not have started any worse. “I thought we controlled the game after a frenetic start and were really unlucky,” said the Villa manager, whose side face CSKA Moscow in the Uefa Cup and Chelsea in the Premier League this week. But Everton earned and deserved everything they got.”
The tie had continued where the enthralling league meeting between these teams finished in December. Set-pieces were again of paramount importance to Everton and after only three minutes Mikel Arteta’s corner found Tim Cahill with his characteristic yard of space inside the area. Though the Australian’s header was blocked on the goal-line, Rodwell was on hand to convert via the underside of the bar and provide Everton with the perfect start.
Stiliyan Petrov, the visitors’ captain in the absence of the suspended Gareth Barry, had blocked Cahill’s header with his arm on the goal-line but the red card offence went unpunished as the referee Martin Atkinson played the advantage. Moyes, unsurprisingly, disagreed, though as O’Neill stated: “A goal and a sending off? You can’t have both.”
Goodison’s grievance was exacerbated when the Bulgarian midfielder proved instrumental in Villa’s equaliser five minutes later. Petrov released Gabriel Agbonlahor and Tony Hibbert gave the referee no choice but to point to the penalty spot when he clipped the England striker’s heels. James Milner squeezed his spot-kick under Howard.
It was a turn of pace from Anichebe that helped restore Everton’s lead as well as his place in Moyes’ affections. The Nigeria international only played because there was no alternative available to the Everton manager, who sent the forward home from training before the fourth-round victory over Liverpool after he had ruled himself out with an injury. A standing ovation when he departed three minutes from time, having polished his display with two assists, spoke of forgiveness.
Anichebe’s first telling contribution was a surging run through the heart of the Villa defence that was halted illegally inside the area by Steve Sidwell. Arteta sent Brad Friedel the wrong way from the penalty spot. With 14 minutes remaining the recalled striker left his mark again with a cross that picked out Cahill unmarked at the far post. A scuffed shot deceived Friedel, and the Australian celebrated putting Everton into the quarter-finals by pointing to a black armband worn in memory of victims of the bush fires in his homeland. Guardian Service
