FA Cup final!

By: 21 | April 20th, 2009

Everton advanced to it’s first FA Cup final appearance since 1995 as they overcame Man Utd 4-2 in penalties. The surprise of the day was Sir Alex Ferguson reworking his lineup to include Ben Foster, Fábio, Rafael, Darron Gibson, Danny Welbeck and Lazio product Federico Macheda, who I might add should be playing at home if regulatory bodies in the sport chose to govern, as opposed to turning a blind-eye to wealthiest clubs in discretion’s.

While the Toffees were marginally better side before the half, “Sir Alex’s kid’s” were posing considerable problems after the break and were definitely more of a threat. Additionally fortune was on Everton’s side as Mike Riley waived play-on when Phil Jagielka could have easily be adjudged a penalty for bringing down Danny Welbeck in the area. Realistic scoring chances were rare for Everton and for the few that seemed ready to emerge, Nemanja Vidić was there to turn it aside. After thirty-minutes of extra-time the match was still was unmarked and went to penalties.

When matches are decided in penalties the goals, just as the misses are remembered. David Beckham’s miss in the Euro 2004 against Portugal tears is numbing for the Three Lions supporters and as Everton fans agonized as Timmy Cahill sent the ball over. That aside nothing readied you for what was to come as Dimitar Berbatov strolled up and side footed the ball casually towards Tim Howard in one of the most arrogant displays in recent memory. Following Leighton Baines proving he wants to win the FA Cup by driving the ball in with power, the skipper Rio Ferdinand stepped-up and plunked a soft shot to Tim Howard’s right that was pathetically short on power and a easy save. Following those two misses it was merely a task of working through the order without error and in the end, Phil Jagielka sent Everton joyously to the finals. .