{"id":824449,"date":"2026-03-14T03:59:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T03:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/824449\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T03:59:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T03:59:18","slug":"everton-player-ratings-for-controversial-fa-youth-cup-defeat-at-man-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/824449\/","title":{"rendered":"Everton player ratings for controversial FA Youth Cup defeat at Man City"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Chris Beesley rates the Everton Under-18s players after a contentious penalty decision sent them on their way to a 3-0 quarter-final loss to Manchester City<\/p>\n<p>21:10, 13 Mar 2026Updated 21:13, 13 Mar 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: Leke Drake of Manchester City is challenged by Ceiran Loney of Everton during the FA Youth Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City and Everton at Joie Stadium on March 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey\/Getty Images)\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0_GettyImages-2266365085.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Leke Drake of Manchester City is challenged by Ceiran Loney of Everton during the FA Youth Cup quarter-final at Joie Stadium on March 13, 2026 in Manchester, England\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Leke Drake of Manchester City is challenged by Ceiran Loney of Everton during the FA Youth Cup quarter-final at Joie Stadium on March 13, 2026 in Manchester, England(Image: Lewis Storey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Everton produced a spirited display against Manchester City in their FA Youth Cup quarter-final at the Joie Stadium.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But after matching their hosts for almost an hour, the tie hinged on a controversial penalty decision that led to <a aria-label=\"EvertonLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/everton-fc\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Everton<\/a> ultimately being well-beaten after being reduced to 10 men.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ademide Akarakiri clearly won the ball from Floyd Samba but referee Richie Watkins pointed to the spot with the same City player converting from 12 yards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Malik Olayiwola was sent off, seemingly for dissent, soon afterwards, and with the hosts now enjoying a numerical advantage, they took charge with Reigan Heskey \u2013 son of Emile \u2013 adding a second goal before putting the third on a plate for substitute Teddy Lamb.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Douglas Lukjanciks 8<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Produced a series of smart saves to keep Everton in the contest, including a low one to deny Heskey at the near post but was sent the wrong way by Samba from the penalty spot when diving left only for the Man City player to roll the ball to his right.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Rocco Lambert 5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Shot wide when corner from Olaylwola was only half cleared, he tried to get forwards at times, even though he was up against the dangerous Heskey who finally got his breakthrough by netting the second goal before setting up the third for sub Lamb.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Louis Poland 5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Overlapped well when the score was still goalless and attempted a shot from a tight angle at near post, but like the rest of the defence, had a tough finish to the game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Lewis Evans 5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Kept things together at the back for long periods, but the floodgates finally opened after the sending off.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Harlow McEveley 5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Went close with a header from a corner which was tipped over the bar by Max Hudson before getting overran in the latter stages.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Melvin Matos 6<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Energetic display, cutting out a Heskey cross with a well-timed interception, he was a busy figure in the engine room.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Shea Pita 6<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Combined well with Olayiwola to put in low cross for Loney and while things didn\u2019t always come off for him, he kept battling on the right wing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Ademide Akarakiri 6<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Some nice touches but found himself in the game-changing moment when referee Watkins awarded City a penalty following his challenge on Samba, despite winning the ball.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Cerian Loney 6<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Led the line in robust fashion but only had one chance of note when he shot wide with a first-time effort from Pita\u2019s low cross and was booked early in the second half for pulling back Leke Drake before making way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Malik Olayiwola 4<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Was one of Everton\u2019s most creative outlets in the first half and at the hub of most of their attacking forays, picking out Braiden Graham for chance, having a low drive himself and starting the move for Loney\u2019s attempt, but was then shown a straight red card for seemingly speaking out of turn shortly after Man City went ahead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Braiden Graham 6<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A few silky touches but this was not his night, after falling awkwardly early on when challenging Samba, he recovered to have a deflected shot over the bar, but goal number 32 of the season was not forthcoming.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">SUBS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Ray Robert (on 61 for Loney) 6<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Brought on as Everton sought a reaction to going a goal down but instead they found themselves down to 10 men and he was mostly left chasing shadows.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Freddie Murdock (on 70 for Matos) 6<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Introduced in difficult circumstances, he provided some fresh legs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Jonathan Nsangou (on 80 for Pita)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Late introduction to save legs with the tie lost.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Jake Doughty (on 80 for Graham)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ditto.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Kean Wren (on 85 for Akarakiri)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Latter stages cameo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Chris Beesley rates the Everton Under-18s players after a contentious penalty decision sent them on their way to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":824450,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1467,13,1036,12,14],"class_list":{"0":"post-824449","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-everton-fc","9":"tag-headlines","10":"tag-manchester-city-fc","11":"tag-news","12":"tag-top-stories"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116225531364647411","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=824449"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824449\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/824450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=824449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=824449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=824449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}