Frabk Lampard’s Everton came through the FA Cup round of 16 with more problems than expected after defeating Fifth Division Boreham Wood 2-0 at Goodison Park thanks to a brace from Salomón Rondón. In the quarterfinals, the ‘toffees’ will face Crystal Palace at home.
Lampard made several changes to the starting lineup and scheme as he played with three central defenders. In addition, he gave the captaincy to the young Ukrainian left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko as a show of support for Everton in the terrible situation he is suffering due to the war in his country after the Russian invasion.
disappointing first part
Despite the abysmal difference in category, Everton were unable to translate their dominance into clear chances in the first half against a Boreham Wood who defended with order.
Everton’s best and virtually only chance didn’t come until the 37th minute when Anthony Gordon’s low shot was hurriedly deflected by goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond.
Richarlison enters after the break
Faced with his team’s ineffectiveness in attack, Lampard opted to bring on Richarlison in the second half and play with four defenders by entering right-back Nathan Patterson instead. With the Brazilian on the field, the game of the ‘toffees’ was more incisive although it was Salomón Rondón who decided.
The Venezuelan striker warned in the 51st minute when a header went over the crossbar by millimeters after a perfect cross from right-back Jonjoe Kenny.
Kenny-Rondón connection
Six minutes later, at 57′, another connection between Kenny and Rondón ended with the ball in the net. Kenny crossed low to the near post and Rondón, getting ahead of the defence, put in his right foot to beat Ashby-Hammond at the post.
Shortly after, Mykolenko, the star of the night, had to retire injured (59′). Little by little Boreham Wood gave way and Ashby-Hammond kept them on their feet in a one-armed hand with Gordon (66′).
Carom goal disallowed
In a bizarre action, Richarlison scored, but the goal was disallowed because, after a shot by Gordon, the defense’s rebound hit him first in the eye and then in the arm before the ball went in.
Ashby-Hammond frustrated Richarlison again by repelling a low shot off the post with a save (76′). Finally, the visiting goalkeeper could not avoid the 2-0 draw since, after a cross from Andros Townsend, he took Rondón’s header with a feline save but the ball had already narrowly crossed the goal line (84′).
vindictive doublet
It is the first brace for the Venezuelan since he arrived at Everton in the summer. Before, he had only scored one goal in the Premier League and he hopes that his performance today will give Lampard reasons to give him more prominence.