For the second consecutive tie Citys Academy side needed a penalty shoot-out to progress in the competition and just as he did against Stoke City at Carrow Road back in January it was keeper Declan Rudd who was hailed the hero of the hour. Once again Rudd saved a hat trick of spot kicks against Everton to propel Ricky Martins young guns into the next round and a mouth watering quarter final against the cup holders Manchester City at The City of Manchester Stadium.
While Rudd was mobbed by his team mates at the end of a pulsating game, this was no one man show as the team turned in a tremendous performance with the two centre backs Dario Dumic, David Stephens and lone striker Danny Kelly all pushing for the man of the match award.
Ricky Martin made one surprise in his starting line up when, after several weeks out through injury, Sam Habergham when straight back into the starting line. This coming after Richard Brindley picked up a thigh injury in last Saturdays victory over Chelsea, although the schoolboy had recovered enough to be included on the bench.
The home side started the brighter as Norwich were forced onto the back foot for the opening 10 or 15 minutes with Lewis Codling having a couple of half chances.
Once City had settled they came more into the game although it needed a great save from Rudd midway through the half to deny Hope Akpan.
City’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to captain Korey Smith who forced Adam Davies in the Everton goal into a good save.
Just three minutes into the second half and Norwich almost opened the scoring when the hard working Kelly raced clear only to see his rising shot crash off the underside of The Toffees crossbar and away to safety.
Dumic and Stephens were up against it with the Everton attack but they got little change from the Canary duo and even when they did find a way through Conor McAleny was denied a shot on goal by a recovering Dumic.
With the game heading for extra time Kelly was again denied by the woodwork, this time the upright coming to Everton’s rescue.
So it was extra time and this time it was the home side who was cursing the woodwork when McAleny saw a shot strike the post with Rudd well beaten.
With 101 minutes on the clock Everton finally broke the deadlock when Rudd was powerless to stop a rasping free kick from Lea McArdle.
It looked all over for the Canaries but with 112 minutes on the clock they were back on level terms when Davies in the Everton goal made a dreadful error, allowing a harmless shot from Tom Adeyemi to go between his legs. It was probably not the goal City wanted to score but their play certainly warranted it.
Shortly after the final whistle went and the tie would be decided by spot kicks.
Smith fired the first one home for Norwich, while Everton converted their first. Next it was the turn of Adeyemi, and he made no mistake.´Rudd then made the first of his saves before City failed to score their third when Brindley’s shot was saved.Rudd then produced hi second save before Nick Davey fired City into a 3-1 lead.
With Everton needing to score their fourth to keep their hopes alive the final word was down to Rudd as he produced his third save to trigger wild celebrations in the Canary camp.
City Line up: Rudd, Francomb, Habergham [Brindley 90], Omoregie [Clarke 105], Dumic, Stephens, Davey, Adeyemi, Kelly, Smith, Dawkin.
Subs not used: Steer, Reeves, Oakley
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Top Canary: Dario Dumic.
Attendance: 249.
