Two of Everton’s most promising starlets delivered a stunning stoppage time comeback to seal progress in the Liverpool Senior Cup.
The Blues’ Under-21s were trailing 1-0 to Lower Breck heading into the final minutes of the quarter-final tie but scored twice to secure a dramatic win.
The goals came courtesy of Malik Olayiwola and Braiden Graham, two in-form teenagers who have captured David Moyes’ attention through their exploits for the academy this season.
Lower Breck took the lead through Alex Charera in the first half and the Northern Premier League side looked set for a spot in the last four. But first Olayiwola, then Graham, struck to take Paul Tait’s side through instead. Both players have been central to the U18s and U21s this season, playing key roles in the club’s runs to the later stages of both the FA Youth Cup and Premier League International Cup.
Olayiwola, who signed his first professional deal when he turned 17 in January, is an England youth international while Graham, 18, is a key part of Northern Ireland’s development programme. The pair were both named on the bench for the first team in January when Everton faced Sunderland in the FA Cup third round.
Graham, who had 17 goals in just 26 matches heading into last night, was recalled from his Christmas break to feature in the matchday squad for the Premier League win at Nottingham Forest.
Olayiwola levelled two minutes into stoppage time when he drilled in a low shot after playing a one-two with Kingsford Boakye. Graham then took advantage of a misjudgement to secure a semi-final with Warrington Rylands.
After the match, Tait told Everton club media: “We talked about the need to show character and win our one-v-one battles. I thought they scored in the first half against the run of play.
“We weren’t too down at half-time because we felt we could get back in the game but there were then large periods when we didn’t show enough quality in the final third.
“The substitutes helped us when they came on and I have to say that Shea Pita was excellent. He’s a 16-year-old playing against men and he showed really good character and skill tonight.
“Malik’s goal was very good, very well worked. He’d threatened a couple of times on the night, and I expect Malik to score when he is in and around the box because he can finish.”