Road to Wembley Paved with 'Upsets'

It all started on a cold January day that will easily be forgotten, and will end on a sunny day at the end of May, that will live long in the memory. Along the way, Everton have already enjoyed some joyous moments, which is a far cry from this time last season, as Everton found themselves out of all cup competitions and quickly losing fourth place.

It was Leon Osman's sweet strike that gave Everton a ticket into the 4th round of the most glorious domestic cup competition in the world. Evertonians were given shudders when the game eerily reminded them of Shrewsbury them many moons ago, and the Oldham defeat, which was not so long ago. However, as they had done for most of the season, the Everton defence stayed strong to secure the victory. And to the draw...

“Liverpool...will play...Everton”. The first two balls drawn out of the bag pitted the two Merseyside clubs against each other at Anfield. “That's Everton out” said the media, but after salvaging a deserved point in the league game just days prior, the Toffeemen did it again with another 1-1 scoreline. Tim Cahill once again proved a menace, flicking a Steven Pienaar cross onto Joleon Lescott's head, who diverted his effort beyond Reina. Lescott, who had been teased by the Liverpool fans, stood proud and defiant in front of a Kop in despair, allowing Cahill to jump on his back, who pointed and laughed at the distraught Liverpool faithful. However, just like in the league game, it was to be Steven Gerrard who would once again prove a thorn in Everton's side, as his tame shot trickled under Tim Howard for the equaliser. It was all set for a replay at Goodison...

Goodison Park is reknowned for the terrific night games that is plays venue to, and this was no exception. Again, the media believed Liverpool would win the tie, as Rafael Benitez took a phrase originally coined by Mourinho, when he said that Everton could not “park the bus” at Goodison. Steven Gerrard limped off with barely 15 minutes on the clock, to a chorus of cheers from the Evertonians, and Liverpool looked limp without him. When Lucas Leiva was sent off for a second bookable offence on Lescott, it was Liverpool who would opt to “park the bus”. Moyes, knowing Liverpool's ability in penalty shoot-outs, pressed for a winner in extra-time, and he would get it two minutes from time, but from a very unlikely source. Jagielka played the ball out wide to Van Der Meyde, a man who has barely figured and often disappointed since joining Everton, and he crossed the ball to the far post. Youngster Dan Gosling received the ball, showed excellent footwork before firing a deflected shot in off the far post. It sent the Everton faithful delirious and a chorus of “We Shall Not Be Moved” followed, and it sent the Liverpool fans, well, out of the stadium.

Next up, in the 5th round, was Aston Villa at Goodison Park. Villa, the media darlings, were said to have the edge over Everton as they were unbeaten in 20 plus games and had the best away record in the country. However, another upset to follow, as Everton delivered one of their best performances of the season to upset the odds. Mikel Arteta was sublime in the centre of midfield, and Everton had their lead inside the first minute, when Jack Rodwell capitalised on Petrov's handball to blast into the roof of the net. Cue choruses of “We're on the march with Moyesey's Army” bellowing around the Old Lady. However, the Birmingham side are a resilient bunch and soon found their equaliser. Tony Hibbert brought Agbonlahor down in the box before James Milner's spot kick wriggled under Tim Howard's body. Nigerian Victor Anichebe had a point to prove after his supposed backroom bust up, and he won a penalty for Everton just before half time. It was Arteta who duly converted. More “We're on the March....” was to follow. As Villa pushed for an equaliser, they were always susceptible to conceding a third, and Victor Anichebe's terrific ball evaded the Villa defence to leave Cahill with a chance to seal the match. He bundled the ball past Friedel before punching the Gwladys Street corner flag. “We're on the March with Moyesie's Army”...

Everton finally avoided the top 5 in the next round, drawing Middlesbrough at Goodison. It was viewed by many as a must-win game for the Toffees, and one that they went into as media favourites, for a change. This time however, it was to be Everton who bled first. As the end of a dire first half for the Toffees drew to a close, David Wheater's header was too powerful for Howard to keep out. Despite the American's best efforts, the goal stood. Half time came, as did Steve Round's rallying team talk, and as did the substitution of Louis Saha. It was the Frenchman who changed the game and revitalised Everton. Tim Cahill's cross found Marouane Fellaini who nodded over the on-rushing Brad Jones and looped into the net. Goodison was rockin' like in the olden days. Soon after, Pienaar's inch-perfect cross left Saha 5 yards out and he placed his header beyond Brad Jones to send the Goodison crowd into delirium. “We're on the march with Moyesey's Army, we're all going to Wembley!”

Everton were to be underdogs yet again as they drew the best team in the world (officially) in the semi-final. Some Evertonians already took the pessimistic view of “at least we got to Wembley” and such a mood was worsened when Mike Riley replaced Steve Bennett as the referee. However, most Evertonians remained positive and harboured serious ambitions at Wembley. In a rather dire 120 minutes, the current Champions of Europe could not break Everton down, and Everton struggled against United's defence. With the four best centre backs in England on display, there was going to be little joy for frontmen. And so to a penalty shoot-out against the best team in the world, in the best football venue in the world, shooting into the United end. All of this without Everton's two principal penalty-takers.

Cahill, who has so often been the torch-carrying talisman of optimism at Goodison was first up, but he blazed over the bar. Cue scenes of joy from United supporters, as they thought the Carling Cup final would repeat itself. Dimitar Berbatov, who has failed to live up to his 30 million pound price tag, was first up for Manchester United. His lackadaisical penalty was saved well by the feet of Howard. Next up was Leighton Baines, Everton's set piece specialist, and there was no doubt he would convert. Rio Ferdinand was up next for United, but his penalty was well stopped again from Howard, who was proving a point to his former club. Everton's next penalty-taker was Phil Neville, another of the so-called “United Rejects”. He stepped up and beautifully converted his penalty to give Everton a massive 2-0 lead in the shootout. Vidic's penalty luckily ricocheted into the net off the post as United's quintuple dream hung precariously in the balance. James Vaughan, who had hardly kicked a ball for Everton this season, stepped up to convert the penalty of the shootout. Pressure was put back atop United, and atop the shoulders of young Anderson, who responded with a decisive spot kick. However, if Everton scored their next penalty, United were out and Everton reached the final for the first time since 1995. And the man who took the penalty? Phil Jagielka, of course. He stepped up, with the heart of a lion, to strike his penalty past Ben Foster and redeem himself of his penalty sorrows against Fiorentina last season.

The celebrations that followed from the blue half of Wembley were something special. Flags, banners, shirts, horns and songs were all paraded around the greatest stadium in the world. The Everton crowd was arguably the loudest ever to grace the new Wembley, as they toppled the current kings of English football to cause yet another upset.

And already, murmurings point to Chelsea being favourites in the final. This, however, is not a hindrance to Evertonians, as they shall not be moved as they march down Wembley way once again. It is Everton who have all of the momentum as they have already sent three of the current top five out of the F.A. Cup. Hate it or love it, the underdogs are on top.