Everton have moved through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light tonight.
The initial tie on March 17 ended 1-1 at Goodison Park, forcing a replay, and it was the Toffees who came through to book a Wembley date where they will meet Merseyside rivals Liverpool on April 14.
Nikica Jelavic gave the visitors the lead in the 24th minute when the Croatian netted his third goal in his six outings with a neat finish from Magaye Gueye's low cross across the six-yard box.
Everton were providing plenty of problems for the Black Cats, mainly through Jelavic, but it was an own-goal which gave them a second when substitute David Vaughan unfortunately turned in the former Rangers man's cross.
Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet came up with a number of vital saves to deny the Toffees in the first half whilst his Everton counterpart Tim Howard was mainly untroubled except for when Stephane Sessegnon hit the corner of the crossbar from Seb Larsson's cross.
Everton could have added a third on a few occasions later in the piece with Mignolet again denying Jelavic before Gueye shot over the bar but the damage had been done as David Moyes guided his side into the final four where they will re-live the recent 3-0 derby loss at the hands of the Reds.
Sunderland: 0 Everton: 2 (Nikica Jelavic 24', David Vaughan (og) 57')
Stadium of Light, Sunderland - 43,140
Yellow cards:SUN - Phil Bardsley 74', Seb Larsson 76', Lee Cattermole 89' EVE - Darron Gibson 35', Magaye Gueye 67', Marouane Fellaini 72', Nikica Jelavic 74', John Heitinga 77'
