Everton 0-2 Bournemouth
by James Nalton
at Goodison Park

BOURNEMOUTH knocked Everton out of the FA Cup on Saturday following a first half in which they took control with two goals, then had a bit of luck to retain that lead in the second.

It was to be the last FA Cup game at Goodison Park — the ground has twice hosted the final.

Notts County won here in the final against Bolton Wanderers in 1894, and Newcastle defeated Barnsley in a replay in the 1910 final.

It is also home to the team that have won the FA Cup five times, and Everton fans in the Park End held aloft a banner listing those trophies won in 1906, 1933, 1966, 1984, and 1995.

Fast-forward to 2025, and Antoine Semenyo’s penalty got things started for the visitors after he was fouled by a clumsy James Tarkowski challenge.

He fired past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who guessed the right way but was caught off guard slightly by Semenyo’s quick turn to shoot when it looked like he was still pacing his run-up.

The penalty was unusual in its routine but emphatic in its execution.

Daniel Jebbison scored a second for Bournemouth, and as the first half fizzled out, Everton didn’t look like they had it in them to come back into the game.

They picked up in the second half, though. The introduction of new signing Charly Alcaraz midway through it made a difference.

The Argentine, on loan from Brazilian side Flamengo, hit the post with a free kick that he won himself just minutes after coming on.

Tim Iroegbunam and Jack Harrison added something off the bench, too, which pleased manager David Moyes despite the defeat.

“I thought all the players introduced in the second half made a big difference and gave us more energy,” said Moyes.

“I hope those players can help us between now and the end of the season.”

Everton hit the post twice more as they looked to come back into the game, once through Jake O’Brien from a Harrison cross, and again from a Harrison cross that missed everyone and struck the woodwork with Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa standing watching.

Iliman Ndiaye had a header cleared off the line by Semenyo, and Bournemouth hung on, missing a few late chances of their own.

“This competition is not just about how you play,” said Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola. “It’s about soul, belief and the willingness to sacrifice what’s needed to go to the next round.

“I trust we have this, even in a young team they have experience, and they’ve played a good amount of games, so it’s not like they are immature, they’ve added a solidity to their game.”

Bournemouth have now advanced to the fifth round in consecutive seasons, the first time in their history they have done so.

Meanwhile, Everton and English football said goodbye to Goodison Park as an FA Cup venue, and the historic stadium will say many more goodbyes in the coming months.