Everton and Tottenham served up a 5-4 classic after extra time in the FA Cup fifth round at Goodison Park.
The nine-goal thriller was characterized by defensive mistakes from Tottenham as Everton reached their first quarter finals since 2016.
The performances and result betrayed the styles of Carlo Ancelotti and José Mourinho in the dugouts as an anticipated tactical battle became an end-to-end spectacle lacking defensive cohesion.
Mourinho was disappointed by the errors from his team in the highest-scoring game of his Tottenham tenure.
“If it hurts me [the lack of defending], it hurts everyone from our team because the feeling is that we played really well, when we had the ball we were brave, we created. We were the best team winning 1-0, and certainly in five minutes, there was, boom, boom, boom, mistake, mistake, mistake, goal, goal, goal.
“Please don’t make me speak too much about the defensive mistakes we made, because that is obvious, and I don’t feel very comfortable to be speaking about it. We played amazingly well with the ball, and we made mistakes and we were punished by that.”
Everton showed great fighting spirit for the second straight game after a last-gasp equalizer at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The Toffees trailed early but capitalized on defensive howlers, particularly from two-goal Davinson Sánchez, and went 3-1 up within seven minutes before going into the halftime break 3-2 up.
The drama would continue in the second period as Spurs pulled level twice to force extra time before Bernard settled the tie.
Carlo Ancelotti's reaction to Everton going 5-4 up ☕️#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/WCetMZuEir
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 10, 2021
Mourinho told BBC Sport: “If you say it was fantastic, it was fantastic. I’m not a neutral.
“When you score four goals, you have to win. The way we played, we should win comfortably. Attacking football and defensive mistakes.
“The players gave everything. I have to admit for some of them it was not easy because you play so well and one, two, three mistakes and you’re losing 3-1.
“OK, I take positives. Amazing to watch.”
Tottenham have now registered only one win from their last five in all competitions. Mourinho’s men are in their worst period in performances and results since the Portuguese took over 15 months ago.
However, they face the ultimate test of a visit to high-flying table-toppers Man City this weekend with a chance to either get thrashed or deliver another timely Mourinho masterclass.
Needless to say, the Carabao Cup Final date with City is Tottenham’s only realistic hope of a trophy this season, and Saturday would be an interesting prelude.
