Teenager Dan Gosling was Everton’s hero as they knocked city rivals Liverpool out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 extra-time fourth-round replay win at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
There were only two minutes of extra-time remaining when Gosling, who only turned 19 on Monday, curled the ball past Pepe Reina to end the interest of Liverpool, currently second in the Premier League, in this season’s FA Cup.
A miserable night for Liverpool was made worse by the sight of inspirational captain Steven Gerrard going off in the first half with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, while Lucas was later sent off for a second bookable offense.
“It’s a great day for the club and all the fans,” Gosling said. “I was thinking: ‘Just shoot and get it on target.’”
Everton, sixth in the top-flight, will face Aston Villa in the last 16 after the team fourth in the Premier League beat Championship side Doncaster Rovers 3-1 in a fourth-round replay earlier on Wednesday.
Villa scored twice in the space of four minutes against Doncaster. Steve Sidwell put them ahead in the 15th minute when he followed up after Neil Sullivan blocked Craig Gardner’s initial shot and John Carew made it 2-0 with a 20m shot.
But Doncaster hit back on the stroke of halftime when Jason Price’s miscued shot beat Brad Guzan in the Villa goal. However, Nathan Delfouneso settled the hosts’ nerves by making it 3-1 with a header from Nicky Shorey’s cross.
In another replay, Derby County came from 2-0 down to beat arch East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest 3-2 and so secure a glamor fifth-round tie at home to English, European and world champions Manchester United.
Derby, who like Forest are struggling in the second-tier Championship, are managed by Nigel Clough, a former Forest forward. Clough, whose late manager father Brian won the English title with both clubs back in the 1970s, left the post-match press conference duties to his assistant Gary Crosby, another former Forest player.
“He [Nigel Clough] doesn’t look for any glory, but he is incredibly pleased with the result and that is all he is interested in,” Crosby said.
A see-saw match at the City ground saw Forest build an early lead. Chris Cohen put the hosts in front in the second minute with a powerful shot, before Nathan Tyson made it 2-0 from the penalty spot 12 minutes later after being brought down by Derby keeper Stephen Bywater, who avoided a red card.
But Derby got back into the game before the break with a powerful Rob Hulse header. Paul Green draw the Rams level on the hour mark, before Kris Commons put the Rams in front against his old club.
South Africa’s Benni McCarthy was the hero for Blackburn Rovers when he scored with just two minutes of extra-time remaining in their 2-1 all Premier League replay victory over Sunderland.
Sunderland took the lead when David Healy was ruled onside before beating Paul Robinson in the seventh minute. But South Africa defender Aaron Mokoena drew Blackburn level with a spectacular 25m strike, before his compatriot McCarthy headed home the decisive goal.
Blackburn now face 1987 Cup winners Coventry in the fifth round.
The fifth round ties will be played on the weekend of Feb. 14, with Arsenal’s delayed fourth-round replay at the Emirates Stadium against Cardiff taking place on Feb. 16.
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