Everton Under-18s manager Keith Southern took his very young squad to London on Friday evening to take on a very good Millwall team at The Den. It was a fearsome night with strong wind and rain to further
sap energy levels.
The Blues lined up as below with only one starter surviving from last year’s FA Youth Cup competition at the same round, Melvyn Matos. It was effectively a 4-4-2 and featured Harlow McEveley at centre back, just 15 years old and two 14 year olds on the bench!
Everton began brightly and it was a shock when Millwall outnumbered the impressive Blues’ midfielder Demi Akarakiri around the centre circle and a breakaway saw the home side take the lead with a neat finish past Lukjanciks, 0-1.
The other Blues centre midfielder Malik Olayiwola was having a fine game and his dangerous in-swinging corner from the left, bamboozled the home goalkeeper who could only fumble it onto the back of Braiden Graham and the ball almost apologetically found the net, 1-1. See below:
The goal gave the Blues belief and we saw a flurry of near misses as Ray Robert was a foot wide after determined play by Matos, a great break by Olayiwola found Ceiran Loney whose shot was touched over the bar and then Olayiwola and Shea Pita combined to almost set up Robert.
The pressure finally told when, in the 45+2 minute, a bouncing ball was smashed home beautifully by the left foot of Graham. If there was luck with his first, the second was all his own doing (see below), 2-1
The second half began with end-to-end action, the Toffees still looking the most likely until a moment of controversy in the 76th minute as young defender McEveley, when faced with two attackers was clearly pulled back. His defensive run was clearly hindered and Millwall struck an undeserved equaliser, 2-2.
Kean Wren, on as a substitute for Robert, shot narrowly wide after good work on the left as the game drifted towards the seemingly inevitable extra time period.
With just 3 minutes of the added 10 minutes’ time left, there was a moment of magic as 35 yards from goal and under pressure, Akarakiri pirouetted, found space and laid the ball off perfectly to the unmarked Loney. He shot coolly and confidently wide of the advancing goalkeeper and the game was seemingly won, 3-2. See the goal below:
With no time left at all and Millwall throwing every caution to the wind, we saw a last gasp Millwall shot strike left back Louis Poland and go wide. It was the luck the Blues deserved for sticking at it for 100 minutes, 3-2 the final score.
What are the chances for the Youth team in this year’s Cup?
There’s real attacking strength in the team and on the bench. The squad is also missing hotshot winger Justin Clarke, who, like several other eligible players, is currently injured.
The real thing that impressed me was the combination play of the full backs and wingers, Matos and Pita on the right and Poland and Graham on the left. The central midfielders, Akarakiri and Olayiwola are both exciting to watch on the ball and the goalkeeper and captain Lukjanciks is strong. Whether they have the strength and physique to go all the way is another matter perhaps but, one thing for certain, they will always be a goal threat so always stand a chance.
