Everton U18s destroyed after shocking refereeing in FA Youth Cup quarter-final | OneFootball

Manchester City U18s 3 - 0 Everton U18s

Everton U18s were very unfairly defeated by Manchester City in the 6th Round of the FA Youth Cup tonight in Manchester after a dreadful penalty decision was soon followed by a simply astounding red card.

Keith Southern's young Blues, who have defeated Millwall, West Ham United and Ipswich Town en route to the last eight, were looking to book their place in the semi-finals this evening.

If the U18s win, they could meet either Crystal Palace or Blackburn Rovers in the semi-finals. Palace won 3-2 at Villa last night with two stoppage-time goals and Blackburn had a late winner at Turf Moor to beat Burnley. In the last quarter-final, Man Utd play Sunderland next Wednesday.

City dominated the first half in terms of possession, but Everton kept them at bay, with 9 shots, 6 on target, to City's 13, with 9 on target, an open-goal rebound hitting the post.

Loney stupidly pulled back an opponent for the first yellow card of the game shortly after the break. Then, just before the hour mark, Akarakiri collided with a player in the Everton area as he got a touch on the ball but the referee was determined to give City a spot-kick from which they scored after he had booked no less than three Everton players for dissent.

It then all fell apart for the Young Blues when the highly officious referee, Richie Watkins, showed Olayiwola a straight red card for absolutely nothing. He had challenged a City player after a throw-in, possibly after something the City Number 8 pointed out to the referee. Just utterly bizarre. Supposedly a high challenge but the City player never showed any sign that he had even been touched.

City finally scored from open play to effectively wrap it up against the 10 men of Everton with 15 minutes to go. And they then made it 3-0 with a tap-in.

Everton U18s: Lukjancik s, Lambert [Y:58'], Poland, Evans [Y:58], McEveley, Matos [Y:58'] (69' Murdock), Pita (79' Doughty), Akarakiri (79' Wren), Loney [Y:48'] (61' Robert), Olayiwola [R:62'], Graham (79' Nsangou).

John Collins 5 Posted 13/03/2026 at 19:51:25

Click the link, Dave.

I like the look of McEveley in the first half.

Michael Kenrick 6 Posted 13/03/2026 at 20:14:16

An illustrative moment there, where Braiden Graham tried to challenge for the ball down the wing but was all too easily shoved off it by the City player.

Ian Bennett 7 Posted 13/03/2026 at 20:15:50

Careful MK.

Matt Byrne 8 Posted 13/03/2026 at 20:27:11

Even at youth level there us corruption and bias towards certain clubs. A joke of a penalty and a ludicrous red.

If that was Liverpool instead of us, I'd say the same thing, so I'm not being biased. Pathetic refereeing.

Michael Kenrick 9 Posted 13/03/2026 at 20:30:12

The draw for the FA Youth Cup Semi-finals has been made:

Man City or Everton v Blackburn RoversMan Utd or Sunderland v Crystal Palace

Andy Finigan 11 Posted 13/03/2026 at 20:35:00

Absolutely same ref Everton have had the last few years and come to think about many many years.

Inept, biased or corrupt.

Ian Wilkins 12 Posted 13/03/2026 at 20:36:34

Man City are very easy on the eye, aren't they. Keep the ball, possibly over-pass a little, bit like their first team.

At 2-0, and a man down, I think the game is over.Looked like a poor red card decision.

Matt Byrne 13 Posted 13/03/2026 at 20:38:10

We should do a Senegal and walk off. Totally cheated.

Matt Byrne 14 Posted 13/03/2026 at 20:40:13

If you're gonna get a straight red for nothing, think I'd be tempted to kick a few up in the air and at least get a red with some purpose!

Andy Finigan 15 Posted 13/03/2026 at 20:42:08

Never a penalty in a million years lad won the ball and the forward went over his leg. No appeals from Man City but the ref couldn't wait to blow for a pen.

He booked three Everton players just for complaining then sent our lad off for a high boot around 2 foot high and hardly any contact with the City player. Why, oh why???

Ian Bennett 16 Posted 13/03/2026 at 22:42:55

Manchester City Academy

The partnership between Manchester City’s Academy and St Bede’s College began in 2011-2012 and has strengthened over more than ten years. Currently, 63 St Bede’s pupils from Manchester City’s Academy are on the Full Time Training Model (FTTM), part of the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP). The EPPP is a long-term strategy aimed at developing more and better home-grown players, balancing education and elite training.

Ian Bennett 17 Posted 13/03/2026 at 22:49:13

Sign the best kids, offer a private education, look after the parents, offer a purpose built academy stadium and set up, employ the best youth scouts and coaches.

Easy on the eye.

If you miss any, get the cheque book out.

Dave Abrahams 19 Posted 14/03/2026 at 08:41:03

I finally got the game on after 15 minutes. We held our own with a bit of luck until the penalty, hard work to get back after that. The ridiculous sending off made it impossible and we gave the third goal away.

Braiden had a poor game to be honest and didn't show anything -- in this game, I stress -- to make his claim or my claim that he deserves a few minutes in the first team this season —- it will come though.

20 Posted 14/03/2026 at 10:35:20

Ian @16,

A very interesting find there, showing what appears to be a very important educational framework for these 'elite' Academy kids.

I remember there being something along these lines touted years ago -- Everton School... now seems to be renamed as the Everton Alternative Provision Free School and Everton Football College -- what a mouthful!

I wonder if they are coming anywhere close to the level Man City seem to be providing? Certainly not judging by the limited football they are playing.