The Carling Cup Match Review: Everton F.C versus Huddersfield Town
Everton took on Huddersfield Town in a Carling Cup match at the Goodison Park in Merseyside, England. Everton, who play in the English Premier League came to their second round match of the Carling Cup off the back of a one all draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers over the past weekend.
Everton were led to the match by their manager, David Moyes while Huddersfield were guided by their manager, Lee Clark. Both the teams needed a win to qualify for the next round of matches of the League Cup and therefore approached the match in attacking fashion with the 4-4-1-1 formation. For Everton, Jermaine Beckford played as the sole striker but he was supported by Everton’s attacking midfielder in the shape of Magaye Gueye. In midfield, Moyes gave a start to Steven Pienaar, Jack Rodwell, Marouane Fellaini and Leon Osman. It was a golden opportunity for Fellaini, who had been out of action for an extended period of time before this match due to a horrible injury.
Moyes went for experience in his defence with Sylvain Distin and Heitinga in central defence along with Baines and Coleman on their respective wingman positions. Jan Mucha played in goal for the Merseyside blues. On the other hand, Everton’s opponents deployed Theo Robinson in attack as their singular striker. He was supported by Scott Arfield from the midfield in a supporting striker’s position. In the middle of the park, Gary Roberts and Lee Croft played on the left and the right wing respectively.
These wingers were complimented by Joey Gudjonsson and Damien Johnson in central midfield positions. At the back, Huddersfield Town played with Peter Clarke at the left back position while Lee Peltier played as their right full back. In the center of defence, Jamie McCombe and Peter Clarke took their regular positions. Everton were favourites to win the tie and progress to the next round of the Carling Cup due to their immense home support advantage while playing at the Goodison Park. However Huddersfield were seen as the underdogs with a potential to upset any pre-mature celebratory plans garnered by Everton’s manager, David Moyes.
The match started off in fantastic fashion as Everton took the lead with their freshly fit midfielder Fellaini. In the 6th minute of the match, the uniquely hair styled lanky midfielder rose above everyone else to head the ball in from a close range after he was played in by Magaye Gueye. Everton looked in total control after taking the lead and soon made their opponents pay again for slack defending as Jack Rodwell increased their lead to two goals in the 13th minute of the match through a wonderful strike from outside the Huddersfield penalty area.
Right before the whistle blew to signal the end of the first half, Everton’s defensive mistake gave Huddersfield a hope of a comeback as Johnny Heitinga deflected a Gary Robert’s shot off his head. The deflection led the ball to end up in the back of the net for Huddersfield as the lower division club reduced the deficit to a single goal in the 42nd minute of the match. At the end of the first half, the score line was Everton 2, Huddersfield 1.
After the second half started, in the 48th minute of the match Everton were awarded a penalty kick as Jack Rodwell was brought down by Damien Johnson inside the Huddersfield penalty area. The resulting spot kick was expertly converted into a goal by Jermaine Beckford to give Everton a comfortable three goals to one lead over Huddersfield Town. In the 70th minute, Everton were awarded another penalty and this time for a foul by Lee Peltier on Coleman. As a result Lee Peltier was shown a red card by the referee but the follow up penalty kick which was taken by Heitinga was superbly saved by Huddersfield goalkeeper, Ian Bennett.
Luis Saha became the fourth Everton player to score after he was substituted to replace Steven Pienaar in the 76th minute of the match to take the score to Everton 4, Huddersfield Town 1. In the 85th minute, Leon Osman also grabbed a goal from a close ranged header, as at the final whistle the score line was an embarrassing one for Huddersfield at 5-1 in favor of the Merseyside Blues.
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