Jubilant Everton boss Ferguson celebrates with the ballboy AGAIN as Baines screamer forces pens – but Foxes go through
JUBILANT Duncan Ferguson celebrated with a ballboy AGAIN as a late Leighton Baines screamer forced penalties against Leicester City - but the Foxes won the shootout to progress in the Carabao Cup.
The Scottish caretaker was absolutely buzzing after his side fought back from two goals down against Leicester.
After James Maddison and Jonny Evans had scored in the first half, Brendan Rodgers' side looked set to have one foot in the semi-final.
But Ferguson's Toffees fought back in the final 20 minutes at Goodison Park.
First, Tom Davies struck home an impressive volley before Leighton Baines fired in a brilliant goal in injury time.
The late leveller sparked wild scenes on Merseyside - with Ferguson again going ballistic.
Just as he did when Everton beat Chelsea in his first game in charge, Ferguson grabbed the nearest ballboy and threw him wildly into the air.
However, despite the late heroics for the Toffees, it was all for nothing as Everton failed to hold their nerve in the penalty shootout.
Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel was the hero on the night, saving two penalties at the Gwladys Street End.
Cenk Tosun missed his penalty - as did Baines - as Leicester progressed to the semi-final with a 4-2 shootout win.
The last time Brendan Rodgers bossed a match at Goodison Park, he was sacked hours later.
But the Leicester chief was jumping for joy last night after his Foxes survived a dramatic Everton comeback to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
It’s the first time the Foxes have reached the last four of the League Cup since winning the trophy in 2000.
And for Rodgers, who was booted out by Liverpool following a 1-1 draw in the Merseyside derby four years go, a superb return to English football is just getting better and better, even if he was given the fright of his life late on.
First half strikes from James Maddison and Jonny Evans had put Leicester in total control but an impressive performance suddenly went all wrong after a Leighton Baines wonderstrike in stoppage time incredibly pulled Everton level and sent the match to penalties after Tom Davies pulled one back in the 70th minute.
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The shootout started well for the Toffees - Jordan Pickford produced a stunning stop to deny Maddison first up before Kasper Schmeichel kept out Cenk Tosun.
Ben Chilwell kept his nerve and then Baines went from hero to zero as the Foxes keeper saved once more and it was eventually left to Jamie Vardy to step up and curl in the winning penalty.
The heartbreaking ending meant Ferguson’s superb salvage job came crashing to an almighty halt as dreams of handing incoming boss Carlo Ancelotti a club within touching distance of landing first piece of silverware since lifting the FA Cup in 1995 were ruthlessly blown away.