Many Everton fans have been reflecting on the club’s blown opportunity to lift the 2016 FA Cup, when we bowed out of the competition in the Semi-Final to Manchester United.
The club last lifted a major honour in 1995 when we clinched our fifth FA Cup crown, adding to earlier triumphs in 1906, ’33, ’66 and ’84. We have also lifted nine top-flight trophies in our history, most recently in the 1986/87 season.
Our only hopes to end the lengthy drought this term now likely rely on lifting the FA Cup next May or the Carabao Cup, with a Quarter-Final date with Leicester City booked for December 18.
Roberto Martinez’s Blues had a stellar chance to reset the clock three years ago after reaching the FA Cup and EFL Cup Semi-Finals, though, but tasted defeat in each tournament when the Final was in sight.
Manchester City were the team that dealt our pain in the EFL Cup that season, while United emerged victorious in the FA Cup when Anthony Martial struck a stoppage-time winner.
Marouane Fellaini had given the Red Devils a first-half lead, but Louis van Gaal’s side could not maintain their early dominance after the break as we grew into the tie and often forced David de Gea into action.
The Spaniard also denied Romelu Lukaku from the spot in the 57th minute, though he could not keep the ball from rippling his net 15 minutes from time, when Chris Smalling diverted Gerard Deulofeu’s cross into the back of his goal to cause pandemonium in the Everton side of Wembley.
Play progressed but neither side could find a winner, as the match seemed destined for extra-time, only for Martial to pop up three minutes into added time with a cool finish under Joel Robles to book a spot in the Final where they would go on to beat Crystal Palace.
Which was the bigger missed chance?
2009 FA Cup
2016 EFL Cup
2016 FA Cup
Things were not to be in 2016 and we await our next chance to reach the FA Cup Final, a round we have not played in since losing to Chelsea in 2009.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reflected on the pain caused by Martial that summer’s day in North West London…
If we had got rid of brown shoes after the humiliation at Anfield three days prior I remain convinced we’d have beaten a poor Manchester United side that day. Fact brown shoes let Lukaku take that penalty when Baines was on the field summed up what he did to the club
— Roger Mottram (@rogerefc) November 18, 2019
Makes me feel sick that day
— Cal (@CallumCalwillo) November 18, 2019
Agreed. Broke me that match. Great day until near the end of the match. Horrible trip home. Just felt miserable. Real opportunity gone.
— Paul Sweeney (@paulcsweeney) November 18, 2019
Same, utterly broke me. Back to the hotel in silence.
— Ian G (@IanG1878) November 18, 2019
It’s our own fault for not taking our chances. I.e Lukaku
— YFC (@Y_FriendlyCynic) November 18, 2019
We all know @Everton don’t do easy .
— kevin guest (@toblueforyou123) November 18, 2019
Joke how we never went through that day #cursed
— simmo (@simmo8787) November 18, 2019
That Martial goal crushed my soul a little and I’ll never recover tbh
— Tom Gowers ????AG21 (@TomGowers9) November 18, 2019