LEIGHTON BAINES’ Everton understudy, Bryan Oviedo, showed the same precision from the penalty spot as the Blues senior penalty-taker, as the Costa Rican last night fired the Blues Under-21s into an Academy Play-Off semi-final against Tottenham.
Everton won a penalty shoot-out against Newcastle 5-3, with Oviedo converting a thrilling tie’s decisive kick.
The quarter-final clash had earlier finished 3-3 after extra time, making penalties necessary.
A total of three over-age players are permitted in Under-21 Academy ties and Newcastle’s 31-year-old striker Shola Ameobi opened the scoring midway through the second half.
That sparked a goal rush with Conor McAleny levelling almost instantly, slamming the ball into the net after good work by Matt Kennedy, then the Blues own senior striker, Steven Naismith, took one touch and powered the ball into the top corner to put Everton into a 77th minute lead.
Toon levelled seven minutes from time through Inman, then in extra-time the visitors grabbed the lead through Richardson.
But the Blues refused to lie down and five minutes from the end of extra-time John Lundstram struck to force penalties.
January transfer window acquisition John Stones got the Blues off to a flier with an ultra confident chip, an advantage which was accentuated when Bigirimana slipped and shot wide with Newcastle’s first kick.
Shane Duffy sent Alnwick the wrong way to make it 2-0, Tavenier made it 2-1 then Ross Barkley made no mistake to make it 3-1.
Ameobi scored his second of the night, Luke Garbutt slotted as did Inman, meaning that a successful Oviedo strike would send the Blues through.
His effort struck the inside of the post and crept over the line to spark celebrations.
EVERTON: Mucha, Stones, Oviedo, Lundstram, Duffy, Browning, Kennedy (Grant 110), Barkley, McAleny (Duffus 103), Naismith, Long (Garbutt 105). Unused substitutes: Springthorpe, Green.
