As Sean Dyche put it, any distraction is welcome at Everton right now amid the threat of a second points deduction, legal cases, financial disputes and not knowing exactly what they are playing for in the Premier League this season. André Gomes, the beauty in a beast of an FA Cup third round replay, provided one against Crystal Palace.
The former Barcelona and Portugal midfielder illuminated a scrappy contest with a superb free-kick to book Everton a fourth round tie at home to Luton. It was Everton’s first goal direct from a free-kick in 197 games, stretching back to Lucas Digne’s effort at Lincoln in August 2019, and ended a run of six matches without a win for Dyche’s team.
Written by Andy Hunter at Goodison Park
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/17/everton-crystal-palace-fa-cup-third-round-replay-match-report under the title “André Gomes ignites Everton’s FA Cup dream and dispatches Palace”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
