Everton U23 2-1 Sunderland U23
Sunderland under-23s exited the Premier League Cup on Friday after Everton struck late to secure their pathway into the last eight.
Anthony Gordon curled home a free-kick with just three minutes let n the clock to earn the Toffees a place in the quarter-finals at the expense of a spirited Black Cats.
It was cruel on Sunderland who thought they had forced the game to extra-time when Williams Kokolo’s header cancelled out Bassala Sambou’s second-half spot-kick.
Taking on Premier League leaders Everton at Southport’s Merseyrail Community Stadium, Elliott Dickman’s side knew they would have to be at their very best if they were to trouble David Unsworth’s side.
After a quiet opening 40, the Black Cats managed to carve out the best openings of the half when Jordan Hunter and Jack Connolly forced Everton keeper, Mateusz Hewelt, to make two smart saves in quick succession.
Stryjek was then forced to whirl into action at the other end, saving well from Sambou who waltzed onto Josh Bowler’s low cross.
From there, Everton stepped things up in the second 45. Gordon’s pace saw him get in behind Sunderland and draw a stop from Stryjek before Bowler too had a sight of goal, however, he failed to hit the target.
The opening goal came minutes after the hour mark. Sambou the finisher, confidently tucking home a spot kick after Gordon had been sent tumbling.
Sunderland fought back, though, and levelled on the 81st minute when Kokolo headed into the top corner of the net from 10 yards.
It was a goal that came as a shock to Everton and looked to have sent the match into extra-time, however, Gordon had other ideas and with three minutes left on the clock, he expertly bent a free-kick beyond Stryjek to knock Sunderland out of the cup.
Sunderland U23: Stryjek, Hunter, Young, Neil, Taylor, Bainbridge, Mumba, Connolly, Kimpioka, Evans, Kokolo
Subs: Storey, Johnstone, Hackett, Slack
