March 5, 2017
Tottenham 3-2 Everton
Tottenham: Lloris, Dier, Alderwield, Vertonghen, Walker, Wanyama, Dembele (Winks 78), Davies, Eriksen (Sissoko 87), Alli, Kane (Jansen 90)
Subs Not Used: Son, Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer
Everton: Joel, Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori, Baines, Gueye (Valencia 81), Schneiderlein, Barry (Mccarthy 64), Davies (Mirallis 64), Barkley, Lukaku
Subs Not Used: Jagielka, Steklenburg, Holgate, Lookman
The last time Everton found themselves at iconic Wembley Stadium was in the beginning of March, in a highly anticipated fixture against Tottenham Hotspur, who found themselves challenging Chelsea at the top of the table. The first half was all Tottenham, as they steadily put the pressure on in the attacking half and were rewarded with a superb Harry Kane strike from 25 yards out which fired its way into the left corner, putting Spurs 1-0 up. Spurs would go on to have a flurry of chances from the likes of Kane, and Mousa Dembele but would not score another goal, one last deflected shot from Wanyanma that pinged off the post would see Everton escape to the tunnels only 1-0 down at halftime, probably fortunate to not be farther off.
The second half started with Tottenham again pressuring, as Dele Alli put a header on target but Robles made the save. In the 56th minute however, after a Robles throw found Schneiderlin under intense pressure, Alli would steal the ball and put Harry Kane through on goal and the English national made no mistake, it was 2-0 and Everton were on the ropes. After continued comfortable play from Spurs for most of the second half, Lukaku would find himself capitalizing on a dreadful slip from Verthonghen and scoring off his right into the corner, cutting the deficit to one goal. A frantic stoppage time would see Dele Alli put Spurs up 3-1, and then Enner Valencia poke home a Ross Barkley free kick at the death. That’s where the game would end, perhaps more lopsided than the score would suggest, at 3 goals to 2.
The Blues will travel to Wembley once again to play a Spurs team they have not gotten 3 points against in the last 10 matchups. Expect an Everton team that has not been nearly as successful away from Goodison Park, to play compact in the back against the same team that shellacked the toffees 3-0 in September. While Saturday should see the debut of Bestikas Striker and Turkish hero Cenk Tosun, along with the return of Wayne Rooney and Idrissa Gueye, a confident and prolific Spurs attack is likely to cause a depleted Everton back line problems for 90 minutes. Expect Tosun to strike in his debut, and for Everton’s counter-attack to look much better than it has in months, but for the effort to fall just short in an entertaining game at Wembley.
Prediction: Tottenham 2 Everton 1
Up the Toffees!!!! -Jacob
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