Everton 0-3 Wigan: Latics Reach FA Cup Semi-Final (PICTURES)

Wigan Eviscerate Everton To Reach FA Cup Semi-Finals
|

Wigan exhibited a masterclass in attacking football as they eviscerated Everton to reach their first ever FA Cup semi-final.

Maynor Figueroa, Callum McManaman and Jordi Gómez struck in an extraordinary four-minute spell in the first 45 to deflate the expectant home crowd at Goodison Park.

Shaun Maloney had already struck Jan Mucha's post in the 11th minute with a quality curling effort as the visitors capitalised on their tentative hosts' start. Wigan had won just two of their last 15 Premier League games but their confidence belied their status as favourites for relegation.

Mucha then denied James McCarthy's long-range shot before Figueroa nodded in from the resultant corner for a deserved lead on 30 minutes.

Everton's problems doubled when 75 seconds later McManaman made it 2-0. Toffees captain Phil Neville's disastrous pass inadvertently assisted the former Everton schoolboy, who sped past Sylvain Distin to finish cooly.

Open Image Modal

Gómez celebrates Wigan's third

Gómez provided the pick of the goals when he classily curled a shot into the corner of the net from 20 yards, following selfless work from Arouna Koné on the left-hand side. Everton manager David Moyes designated assistant Steve Round to holler instructions as he sat down in disbelief, mulling over how to effect the second 45 to the soundtrack of deafening boos.

After the pause the calamitous Neville - booked for a foul fuelled by frustration on Jean Beausejour - was withdrawn in favour of Victor Anichebe but the stand-in Wigan goalie Joel was largely untroubled.

Marouane Fellaini generated the biggest boos of the day when he was hauled off minutes after he failed to chase a ball he had lost, motivated by a combination of his performances sagging and transfer speculation soaring.

Kevin Mirallas had a goal correctly chalked off for offside, another substitute - the budding Ross Barkley - fired wide in the closing stages before Leon Osman worked Joel and Seamus Coleman missed an easy header. Then the boos rang around again.

Five days shy of his 11th anniversary as Everton manager, Moyes was unable to silence the sceptics' belief Everton have become stagnant under his guidance.

Wonderful Wigan meanwhile are headed for Wembley for the first time since 2000.