Fulham reached the Carabao 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.
Marco Silva returned to the ground he used to call home and masterminded a victory, albeit one far nervier than perhaps expected after Michael Keane’s own goal had given them a first-half lead.
Instead, substitute Beto levelled for Everton with eight minutes to go. Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye missed from the spot, before Adarabioyo slotted Fulham into their maiden League Cup semi-final.
Fulham had the lion’s share of possession in the early stages, yet it was Everton who were using the ball with more purpose.
As the first 45 progressed, half-chances came and went for the Toffees. A little too desperate to get themselves going, Fulham were rushing their counter-attacks, pumping the ball up for Rodrigo Muniz, who cannot hold the ball up as effectively as the suspended Raul Jimenez.
Dwight McNeil hammered over with the game’s first opening of note, and Everton were soon back for more when Jack Harrison’s in-swinging cross found the late-arriving Jarrad Branthwaite, whose header found Bernd Leno’s gloves.
Silva was showing visible frustration at Muniz’s inability to keep the ball, but soon Michael Keane poleaxed Muniz and the Brazilian’s performance took a sharp upward turn.
Willian delicately placed the resulting free-kick along the ground but inches wide. Within two minutes, Muniz’s control had brought Fulham the lead. He spread for Willian, who played in the overlapping Antonee Robinson, and from the American’s cross, a cruel deflection off Keane found the net.
Fulham and their pocket of away supporters in the Bullens Stand knew the potential importance of the goal. Four minutes before the break was no bad time to edge in front.
The match had sprung to life in the final minutes of the first half, and after the interval it opened up even more. Jack Harrison whizzed a shot from distance just wide of the mark at one end, before Harry Wilson’s speculative and spectacular volley hurtled over the bar at the other.
A clash of heads with Nathan Patterson saw Willian substituted through precaution with a head injury, and his exit coincided with 20 minutes of intense and untenable pressure by the hosts.
Eventually, Sean Dyche’s side asked Fulham a question to which they could not muster an answer. Garner’s scuffed shot bounced for substitute Beto, who nodded his third Everton goal past Leno — motionless and helpless.
An end-to-end final ten minutes ensued, both sides patently aware penalties rather than extra time loomed.
Amadou Onana fluffed the chance to win it for Everton by missing after Bobby Cordova-Reid had. Instead, Idrissa Gueye hit the post at 6-6, and Adarabioyo took his chance to keep Fulham’s dreams of silverware alive.
