FA Cup - Everton overcome Fulham

Fri, 27 Jan 22:04:00 2012

Everton booked a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup as they hit back from a controversial Fulham opener to win 2-1 at Goodison Park.

Everton's Denis Stracqualursi (right) and Fulham's Aaron Hughes (left) battle for the ball - 0

Landon Donovan starred for the hosts, the American loan signing setting up goals for Denis Stracqualursi and Marouane Fellaini in response to Danny Murphy's opener for Fulham.

It was what Everton deserved as they dominated the match for long periods of both halves and were aggrieved to see Howard Webb award the visitors an early penalty for a hand ball that Johnny Heitinga appeared to have no chance of avoiding.

Everton started brightly and put Fulham under pressure from the get go, but it was Fulham who took the lead in the 12th minute as Webb adjudged Heitinga to have deliberately handled Damien Duff's goalbound shot in the area.

John Arne Riise found space down the left and crossed in for Duff, whose shot came off the arm of the Everton defender via his leg as he launched himself at the ball. The reliable Murphy did the rest from the spot.

The goal did little to quell Everton's passion and they should have been level moments later when Magaye Gueye's cross fell perfectly to Shane Duffy who missed his header from yards out.

The chances kept coming for a dominant Everton and eventually the home side had their reward. Donovan found space on the right to deliver a telling cross onto the head of Stracqualursi, the Argentine heading his first goal for the Toffees past David Stockdale's despairing dive.

Fellaini just failed to give Everton the lead moments later when his shot flashed over Stockdale's bar and Fulham were relieved to hear the half-time whistle moments after Donovan saw his rasping shot beaten away.

The hosts began the second half in much the same vein as the first although the in-form Clint Dempsey should have done better with his header from Bryan Ruiz's pinpoint cross.

From then on it seemed as if Fulham would be content with a replay, happy to give Everton possession and hit them on the break. But the plan backfired when the excellent Donovan was again the architect, crossing to Fellaini who leapt high to head past Stockdale.

Minutes later, it should have been three when Phil Neville's cross found and unmarked Tim Cahill, only for his header to cannon off the bar.

A late Fulham substitution saw Bobby Zamora brought on for Duff but the move did little to inspire the visitors, who lacked urgency despite going behind.

Victory means that Everton lay to rest their Fulham hoodoo in the Cup, knocking out the Londoners for the first time in five attempts.

Fraser Masefield / Eurosport

Comment 4 - 23 of 23

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  1. Good win for Everton after the poor decision by the­ ref. The game proved how important a skilful midfielder­ is to our team and it is sad that Landon will be­ returning to the States next month for he certainly­ adds a creative dimension to our game. We need to­ acquire someone like him if we are progress in the Cup­ and improve our position in the league. It was great to­ see us scoring from open play with two excellent­ headers. I suspect that we do need a new striker but if­ our midfield/over/lapping full backs could provide good­ ball then perhaps our strikers would score more­ consistently. We have to accept that when we had­ Arteta, Saha and Cahill were scoring much more­ frequently. A win against Man City at Goodison would­ provide the team and supporters with so much more­ encouragement.

    From WILLIAM, on Sat 28 Jan 23:33

  2. Sack the useless Martin Jol to save Fulham FC from­ relegation.

    From Tom, on Sat 28 Jan 17:41

  3. Sadly we were very poor. Totally inconsistant.­ There's some thing going very wrong, player moral,­ tactics GON's but it needs to be sorted pretty @#$%­ quickly. I'm not sure about this manager at all,­ just not sure he's right for the club.

    From Binky C, on Sat 28 Jan 17:25

  4. glad to see everton doing well (am an arsenal fan) but­ i have a lot of respect for the everton manager, so­ hope everton do well

    From t.s.i.elewa, on Sat 28 Jan 13:37

  5. Landon Donovan with two excellent assists. Was a good­ game.

    From the_rogue_unknown, on Sat 28 Jan 11:51
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    aww f uck a didant no ther waz a match on las nite.

    From Donney, on Sat 28 Jan 11:13

  7. Webb if you give the penalty at least spare the guy a­ yellow card. How could that be intentional at that­ speed?

    From Billy, on Sat 28 Jan 10:25

  8. That Webb not good on penalties is he.

    From Stephen, on Sat 28 Jan 8:05

  9. No biggie Fulham need to focus on the League. COYW.

    From Morty, on Sat 28 Jan 6:47

  10. a wins is win ,is a win ,lets hope we can build on this­ COYB

    From kenneth l, on Sat 28 Jan 6:24

  11. Bill Kenwrong...........LOL.

    From Joaquin Gash, on Sat 28 Jan 6:15

  12. YES!! Saha is out, Moyes has seen sense at last !! COYB

    From Martin, on Sat 28 Jan 3:37

  13. coyb. lets put this bad season right. bluebill its time­ you go (with respect).... dont turn out like peter­ johnson. put the blue family first.

    From Ne, on Sat 28 Jan 3:06

  14. Come on Everton hope you do well tonight and best­ wishes to our friendly rivals in that Great City of­ LIVERPOOL,
    A life long RED

    From michael, on Sat 28 Jan 3:04

  15. I hope comment 7 proves me wrong but struggling at home­ to the likes of QPR Stoke Norwich and Blackburn means­ we no longer are a fortress at home The fact our­ strikers cant score dosnt help and sneaking points with­ goals from a keepers fluke, a defenders penalty and a­ Felli hand ball assist dosnt ode well. Fulham are on a­ roll but knowing football we could surprise all and­ deservedly win tonight with a good performance Heres­ hoping we see that big Kenwrong smile

    From brennanfinn11, on Sat 28 Jan 3:01

  16. cmon everton!!! oh and if we win,dont have phil neville­ coming out sayin 'Maybe we can push on from­ here'!! because every time he says that we get­ stuffed the next game!!! just win and keep stum!!! coyb

    From spartacus, on Sat 28 Jan 2:39

  17. comment 5 is a bit off the mark regarding Everton being­ underdogs. Fulham are on the same points in the league­ as EFC and above by virtue of a better goal difference­ of 1 goal.They have scored just 6 more than EFC, but­ conceded more. As usual they are solid at home ( but­ lost to EFC) and awful away with just 1 away win in the­ league this season at bottom place Wigan way back in­ October. Only 2 weeks ago they lost 3-1 to Blackburn­ who played 70 minutes with 10 men !!! So that hardly­ makes them favourites ( which the bookies agree with)­ even though Evertons form is patchy at best. For­ certain it will be a tight game, the key for Everton is­ to keep Dempsey quiet though he scores most of his­ goals at Craven Cottage. Can`t get to the game tonight­ due to work( dammed fixture changes) so will be there­ in mind and hoping to see an Everton win, possiblt 2-1.­ COYB

    From Martin, on Sat 28 Jan 2:35

  18. Come on Fulham. You have the quality players to win. ­ Believe & Win

    From Gibbo, on Sat 28 Jan 2:16

  19. We go into this match as underdogs as Fulham are in top­ form and we are struggling Moyes says its not the­ boards fault or Kenwrongs However the whole club has­ been affected by our stagnation in particular Moyes who­ is a shadow of the man he was. Being the only club not­ to spend to improve the squad is having a negative­ effect The board and Denwrong are responsible and DM­ should stop sticking up for them or wel be in the­ Championship before long

    From brennanfinn11, on Sat 28 Jan 1:42

  20. Everton will need to play well tonight to beat Fulham.­ Although we beat them at Craven Cottage they have the­ players to hurt us. The problem is that our defence is­ not as resolute as it should be and I am concerned that­ our midfield will be used more defensively rather than­ offensively. With hardly any impact up front Everton­ may be in a cleft stick position and I find it­ difficult to see where Everton's goals will come­ from. But good luck lads and you never know but this­ could be the game when a miracle could occur.

    From WILLIAM, on Sat 28 Jan 0:47
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