Salomon Rondon scored twice for Everton as they ended Boreham Wood’s FA Cup run with a 2-0 win over the non-league team Thursday to reach the quarterfinals.
Boreham Wood hadn’t conceded a goal this season, but Rondon made the breakthrough for Everton in 57 minutes after he received a cross from the near post.
Richarlison, Everton’s striker, had a goal disallowed by VAR. Rondon then added the second goal with a powerful header that goalkeeper Taye Ashley-Hammond couldn’t stop from crossing the line.
Crystal Palace will host Everton for a chance to reach the semifinals.
Boreham Wood received a unique kit from the Premier League club to avoid clashes. The visitors also received overnight accommodation and travel expenses.
It seemed that Everton would extend the same generosity to the pitch, as Everton never threatened during a poor half. This was the first time Everton’s new director for football Kevin Thelwell had seen the match.
Vitalii Mykolenko, a Ukrainian international, was elected Everton captain. There was also a touching pre-match gesture of solidarity with Ukraine as officials and players held up a banner that read “Imagine all people sharing all the world.” This line was taken from John Lennon’s “Imagine,” which was broadcast over the ground’s public audio system.
Frank Lampard decided to bring in Richarlison to replace Nathan Patterson after the first-half’s poor performance.
Rondon missed his chance at scoring when he crossed Jonjoe Kenny’s cross, but he walked over.
Jarrad Branthwaite gave the visitors an opportunity when he passed directly to Tyrone Marsh. The Boreham Wood forward was then relieved to drive a shot over Asmir Begovic.
After nipping in front David Stephens, Rondon converted another Kenny cross.
After Adrian Clifton’s failed headed clearance at the Brazil international, Richarlison’s close range effort was deemed handball.
Rondon made sure there wasn’t any drama late in the game with a header that was adjudged not to have crossed the line, before Ashby-Hammond pulled back.
Boreham Wood had defeated Championship side Bournemouth the previous round, but Luke Garrard, his manager, acknowledged that his team was outmatched in the second half.
Garrard stated, “I’m just sad that we haven’t been in a position to give our fans a moment — They were colossal throughout the evening and it was a shame that we didn’t test Asmir(Begovic) in goal sufficient, but what has been achieved in this cup run is fantastic.” Richarlison and Rondon worked well together and the team’s performance against (Anthony Gordon) was incredible. We didn’t have to open up as much as we could have.
“The boys deserve to have a few drinks with the extended staff, as this was a team effort.”
Manchester City was also granted a ticket to Southampton in the draw for the quarterfinals, while Chelsea will travel to Middlesbrough.
Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest will play their last round of 16 game on Monday. The winner will face Liverpool.
