Toffees fight back to beat Blades

Mikel Arteta
12 April 2012

Everton booked their place in the third round of the Carling Cup after coming from behind to complete a comfortable 3-1 victory over Sheffield United at Goodison Park.

The npower League One side went in front against the run of play in the 28th minute through Richard Cresswell, but the same player diverted the ball into his own net moments later after Steve Simonsen had got a palm to a strike by Jack Rodwell.

The Toffees then took control of proceedings, with goals from Victor Anichebe and Mikel Arteta swiftly turning the game on its head in the space of five minutes before the break.

United had offered virtually nothing in attack, but just prior to the half-hour mark they suddenly snatched the lead as Cresswell slid in to meet Stephen Quinn's cross and prod it past Jan Mucha.

The advantage lasted a mere three minutes, Steve Simonsen parrying Rodwell's strike at the other end and the unfortunate Cresswell getting the final touch as the ball bobbled over the line.

Anichebe then put the Toffees ahead, connecting with Ross Barkley's drive across the area to sweep home.

And Everton had another three minutes before the interval as the ball broke to Arteta, who stroked it beyond Simonsen from just outside the box.

Stephen Quinn called Mucha into action with a shot six minutes after the restart, but normal service was soon resumed as Simonsen saved efforts from Barkley and Leon Osman. Everton continued to press, with Anichebe volleying wide before Marouane Fellaini and Arteta sent attempts too high.

Blades substitute Daniel Bogdanovic tried something ambitious which sailed over before Osman nearly added a fourth for the hosts, rifling the ball against the post with 15 minutes of normal time remaining.

In the last 10 minutes Matthew Lowton directed a header into the arms of Mucha, who also tipped over a shot by Harry Maguire. It was Everton who almost finished with a flourish, though, Anichebe finding himself through on goal only for Lecsinel Jean-Francois to make a last-ditch tackle.

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