Cauley Woodrow scored a last-gasp goal as Luton Town knocked out Everton in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.
Woodrow netted in the 96th minute when he smashed a close-range shot from a corner past keeper Joao Virginia to seal Luton’s 2-1 victory in the all-Premier League tie in front of a stunned Goodison Park crowd.
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Vitalii Mykolenko’s 39th-minute own goal had put Luton ahead before Jack Harrison cheered up the Everton faithful with an equaliser in the 55th minute, hammering in a low shot that Luton keeper Tim Krul allowed to let slip through his hands.
Everton had complaints over Luton’s opener as it seemed Ross Barkley, who started his career with the Merseyside club, pushed Dominic Calvert-Lewin out of the way before the ball rebounded off Mykolenko into the net.
The first half was short on quality as both sides struggled to create meaningful chances. Everton’s best fell to Beto, who started up front with Calvert-Lewin, but he couldn’t apply the all-important finishing touch.
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The second half saw tensions rise, particularly when Luton’s Reece Burke pushed Youssef Chermiti, but neither team was able to seize the initiative.
The game had seemed destined for a replay — an outcome perhaps neither Everton boss Sean Dyche nor Luton’s Rob Edwards would have wanted — before Woodrow’s intervention.
“To be fair I don’t really remember much. It just fell to me and I managed to tap it in,” Woodrow told the BBC. “It was a tough game and at the end it was like a basketball match.
“I’m really pleased with myself because I’ve been waiting a long time for a goal, and also for the travelling fans — they were unbelievable today.”
“We believe we can go anywhere and win. We were confident coming into the game,” Luton manager Rob Edwards added. “I didn’t enjoy many cup runs as a player. We will enjoy this, it does mean a lot and it is important that we enjoy these moments.”
Sean Dyche told the BBC: “It was an ugly, tight game, not much in it, won on two set pieces again unfortunately. A last minute goal, and that hurts you.
“Second half was better, first half we weren’t close to it. We need to find the moments of real quality. We are a bit stretched at the moment. We changed the system later in the week which was difficult as well.
“I thought we performed well enough at times to win the game.”
Luton are into the FA Cup round of 16 for just the second time since 2013 when they were a non-league side.