Before kickoff, the Park End was awash with banners honouring Everton’s five FA Cup victories, each representing a milestone in the competition’s 132-year existence at Goodison Park. The FA Cup and Goodison Park will live on in history. Bournemouth overcame Everton for the third time this season, ensuring that no more cup matches will be held at the big old stadium.
Two James Tarkowski blunders led to two Bournemouth goals, a penalty from the excellent Antoine Sememyo and a bundled effort from Daniel Jebbison, leaving David Moyes’ team with a mountain to climb by half-time. Everton attempted a comeback in the second half but hit the post three times.
Bournemouth nearly emulated Everton’s performance against Leicester on Saturday by scoring right away. Ryan Christie caught the home defence off guard when he turned to send Jebbison through on goal. Jake O’Brien made a crucial touch, but the ball fell to Marcus Tavernier, whose goal-bound shot was blocked by Tarkowski. The early drama was not sustained, nor was Tarkowski’s normally dependable presence in Everton’s defence.
Iliman Ndiaye fashioned a chance from nothing by dispossessing Illia Zabarnyi on the byline and gliding past Tyler Adams, but his effort to shoot under Kepa Arrizabalaga from a tight angle was foiled by the visiting custodian. The cup tie was otherwise dull and scrappy until Bournemouth’s excellent approach play and Tarkowski’s leaden-feet yielded a penalty for Iraoli’s side.
Milos Kerkez, the Hungary left-back rumoured with a move to Liverpool, launched Semenyo behind a stagnant Everton defence with a superb cushioned volley from Dean Huijsen’s long pass. The big forward surged into the area and was unceremoniously upended by Tarkowski’s foul. Semenyo recovered to convert a clear penalty into Jordan Pickford’s bottom corner. Pickford went the right way but was outpaced by Semenyo’s shot.
Tarkowski’s second costly error came shortly before the break when, under little pressure after receiving a Pickford goal kick, he pinged a pass straight to Tavernier. The Bournemouth winger’s strike bounced into the path of Jebbison, who shoved it past Everton’s custodian on the second try.
Everton had been sloppy with possession, complicit for their own demise, and unable to keep their feet at times, with Idrissa Gueye and Jesper Lindstrom regularly tripping over. Even still, the boos that followed them down the tunnel at halftime, although from a small portion of the home audience, were absurd. Moyes sees rebuilding a relationship between the team and supporters as a priority, and he stated before the game that it is critical for players to perform freely.
The hosts improved significantly after the restart, performing with the intensity and optimism that had been lacking prior to the break. The addition of recent loan signing Carlos Alcaraz was a significant factor, but there was no reward. The framework of Arrizabalaga’s goal ensured that.
It was obviously not Tarkowski’s or Everton’s day. The centre defender just missed a James Garner corner as it rocketed across Bournemouth’s six-yard area. Alcaraz was fouled 25 yards from goal after a charging run from midfield, and the ensuing free kick hit a post, leaving KArrizabalaga glued to the spot. Ndiaye glanced an Ashley Young corner towards goal, but Semenyo cleared it off the line. Alcaraz maintained the pressure, and fellow substitute Jack Harrison crossed to the back post, where O’Brien headed against the woodwork from two yards out. Another Harrison cross soared past Bournemouth’s defence, hitting the inside of the same post and rebounding into the thankful arms of the visiting custodian. Three attempts against the woodwork and Semenyo’s clearance were all condensed into the space of five minutes.
As Bournemouth attempted to punish Everton on the counterattack, Pickford saved shots from substitute Justin Kluivert and Semenyo from close range. They had already done enough.
