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| Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring Everton's winning goal as he continues his fine goalscoring form |
ROMELU LUKAKU scored his sixth goal in five games, but even that was not enough to earn top billing as Everton provided Middlesbrough with a stark reality check to edge closer to ending 21 years of hurt.
If the barnstorming Belgian was impressive, then Gerard Deulofeu was imperious, grabbing centre stage as Roberto Martinez’s side took another big step towards a first major trophy since 1995.
At the same time, it reminded Boro of the massive gulf in class they must bridge in their efforts to re-establish themselves in the Premier League under Aitor Karanka.
The coach had flagged up the danger posed by a prodigiously talented performer he had worked with during his time coaching the Spanish national youth set-up. Forewarned, however, was not forearmed.
“I’ve known Deulofeu since he was 14,” Karanka said. “When he is on his day, as he was here, he’s difficult to stop.”
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| Deulofeu putting Everton into the lead against Boro |
Everton rarely looked like repeating the way they surrendered a two-goal lead at Bournemouth on Saturday and Martinez said: “We showed we’d learned from that and it was a good, mature performance.”
Deulofeu said: “Playing with Romelu, Ross Barkley and these players is easy. We’re in a good moment and we’re looking for more.”
Deulofeu continues to go from strength to strength after a £4.3million summer move from Barcelona. With dazzling footwork and electrifying pace, he tied Boro in knots to ensure Everton became the first visitors to score more than once here for 16 months and put them within a win of Wembley.
Boro had the ball in the net shortly before Deulofeu gave Everton a 20th-minute lead. Stewart Downing’s free-kick was pushed round a post by Joel Robles, and from the resulting corner, Cristhian Stuani bundled home from close range. But referee Roger East rightly chalked it off for a foul by the Uruguay striker on the back-up keeper.
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| Romelu Lukaku gives Everton a 2-0 lead with his accurately places header |
Then Boro backed off when Deulofeu picked up a long clearance from Ramiro Funes Mori midway inside the Boro half, strode forward and found the bottom corner from the edge of the area. It was the first goal Karanka’s side had conceded in more than 10 hours’ football at the Riverside.
Deulofeu then turned provider as Everton doubled their advantage in the 28th minute following a 28-pass move. The livewire Spaniard left Fernando Amorebieta giddy after a series of stepovers before crossing to the near post, where Lukaku glanced home off a post for his 13th goal of the season.
Kike floated a shot wide after good approach play from Stuani as Boro were frustrated in their attempts to come back into a game taken away from them in eight minutes by the brilliance of Deulofeu.
They showed signs of life after the interval as Everton took their foot off the gas, with Martinez able to bring on Leighton Baines for his first appearance since a serious ankle injury in May.
Downing almost sparked a comeback, when his stinging long-range effort was tipped over by Robles. Stuani headed narrowly over, but the damage had long since been done.
Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Mejias; Nsue, Ayala, Gibson (Friend 83), Amorebieta; Clayton (Adomah 74), Leadbitter; Stuani, De Pena (Forshaw 46), Downing; Kike. Booked: Amorebieta.
Everton (4-2-3-1): Robles; Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Galloway (Baines 73); Osman, Barry; Deulofeu (Mirallas 81), Barkley, Cleverley; Lukaku (Naismith 86). Booked: Baines, Stones. Goals: Deulofeu 20, Lukaku 28.
Referee: R East (Wiltshire).middlesbrough 0
everton 2
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