Everton have made it into the quarter-finals of the League Cup after beating Norwich City 4-3 in a penalty shootout after coming from behind in normal time at Goodison Park.
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Norwich made the brighter start to the match, winning a string of corners in the opening 10 minutes, while Wes Hoolahan had a couple of early efforts blocked.
Romelu Lukaku tried to create something down the other end midway through the opening 45 minutes after being kept quiet early on, but the Belgian could only fire the ball straight at Declan Rudd.
Everton enjoyed a strong spell of possession as half time neared, but Lukaku was unable to make the most of a through-ball from Arouna Kone.
The visitors came close again before the interval, though, as Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe created some space just outside the penalty area before attempting to curl it into the top corner, but Joel Robles got across the goal to make the save.
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The Canaries were on the hunt again early in the second half, breaking the deadlock just over five minutes after the restart when Sebastien Bassong won a corner, before tapping in from the resulting set piece.
It did not take Everton long to create some pressure in the Norwich box, but Lukaku was unable to get on the end of a cross from Kevin Mirallas.
Everton managed to keep the ball, though, resulting in an equaliser with just over 20 minutes remaining as Gerard Deulofeu came off the bench to set up Leon Osman, who scuffed the ball in from the edge of the six-yard box.
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The Toffees came close to taking the lead for the first time just a couple of minutes later when Bryan Oviedo made a move down the left flank before crossing on for Lukaku, but he was just beaten to the ball by Bassong.
As full time approached, both sides tried to find a winner to avoid extra time, but Robles kept Martin Olsson's long-range drive out and Rudd tipped a 25-yard free kick from Mirallas behind moments later.
Mirallas had the first chance of the additional period for the hosts as he collected a long ball forward, but hurried his finish to put it wide.
As Everton appeared to be tiring towards the end of extra time, Norwich tried to find a late winner, forcing a corner, but Nathan Redmond curled the ball over, before Lukaku wearily fired high down the other end, ensuring that penalties would be needed to split the sides.
Both sides netted their first two, but Everton edged ahead when Hoolahan slipped on his run-up while taking Norwich's third, putting it wide.
Darron Gibson handed Everton a 4-3 lead, leaving Redmond needing to score his spot kick to keep the visitors in contention, but the England Under-21 international blasted the ball over, sending the Toffees through.
Sian Cowper
