Adarabioyo's heroic penalty sends Fulham to first-ever League Cup semi-finals

Tosin Adarabioyo of Fulham celebrates with Bernd Leno and Fulham team mates after scoring their sides winning penalty during the League Cup quarter final match against Everton at Goodison Park on December 19, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by AFP)

Fulham reached the English League Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history as Tosin Adarabioyo’s spot-kick saw them beat Everton 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

Centre-back Adarabioyo stepped up in sudden death, after Idrissa Gueye struck the post, and rolled home to send the Cottagers through to a first domestic semi-final in 22 seasons.

Marco Silva’s men had a smash-and-grab win at Goodison Park in the opening game of the season and they went home to London victorious once again as they had only one shot on target, which came in the sixth minute when former Everton player Alex Iwobi’s caressed shot was batted out by Jordan Pickford.

Everton’s journey in the Carabao-sponsored competition came to a close on penalties, marking the fourth time in the last six seasons the Toffees have exited the tournament this way.

However, Sean Dyche and his team can take pride in their recent four-match winning run and use it as a stepping stone towards future success.

Tosin Adarabioyo scores the winning penalty during a penalty shoot-out in the English League Cup quarter-final match between Everton and Fulham at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on December 19, 2023. (Photo by AFP)

The game’s opener came four minutes before half-time and went down as a Michael Keane own goal, with the Everton defender diverting the ball into his own net from Antonee Robinson’s cross.

Everton searched for a leveler in the second period but had to wait until nine minutes from the end when substitute Beto headed in from close range.

The game went to penalties, with Bobby De Cordova-Reid seeing his effort saved by England number one Pickford and Amadou Onana’s having a weak effort kept out by Bernd Leno, before Adarabioyo sent the travelling fans of the Cottagers into raptures.

The draw for the semi-finals takes place on Wednesday, with the first leg of those ties being played in the week commencing 8 January.

Fulham have never won a major trophy, but perhaps this could be their time. They reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 2002 when they were knocked out by Chelsea, who are among the teams still left in this competition.

Silva’s players battled through the contest with Everton and had only one shot on target, which came in the sixth minute when former Toffee Alex Iwobi’s caressed shot was batted out by Pickford.
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