Everton fought a spirited comeback to defeat Barnsley 5-3 after extra time in the League Cup, after going 2-0 down in the first half.

The Toffees started out this game with a XI that didn't feature some of the regular starters we have seen during the season. The likes of Steven Naismith, Kevin Mirallas, Bryan Oviedo, Mohammed Besic, and Joel Robles were some of the starters today that normally didn't play. It would not be the same Everton team as they looked to bounce back after a poor performance against Manchester City. 

Great start for Barnsley

The game started out slowly with a couple of chances for the Blues but Barnsley were the first to score in the 22nd minute. Everton failed to clear a ball in the box and it fell to Sam Winnal who smashed it into the back of the net to give them the lead. Things went from bad to worse for Everton as Marley Watkins finished off a great cross from Marc Roberts to give Barnsley the shock 2-0 lead. It seemed to stun Everton as they searched for a way back. Besic had a driven beaten away but there were no major chances as the halftime whistle blew and both teams headed into the locker room. 

Everton spark quick comeback in 2nd half

The second half saw Everton bring on the likes of Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu and it seemed to spark Everton. Barkley began to command the midfield and lead an Everton attack that looked dead in the first half. But it all changed in the 51st minute when Kevin Mirallas cut the lead in half for Barnsley.

A Bryan Oviedo cross found its way to Mirallas and he struck well on the half volley and it found its way into the back of the net. The goal seemed to spark Everton as they pushed for an equaliser. Barkley had a header go wide as Deulofeu seemed to become more comfortable down the wing.

The former Barcelona man fit in well in the 2nd half and was a game changer for Everton. Then in the 59th minute, Everton drew level when Deulofeu crossed it in to Steven Naismith who headed in the equalizer. It was a stunning turn of events as Everton leveled the score as the game approached the hour mark. 

Goals galore

Barnsley took the lead right back when Dan Crowley found himself on the end of a great cross to put the hosts back in front. It was a stunner as Everton just finished off a comeback only to give it away right back. But as Everton kept pushing, many felt that they would find another equalizer.

That equaliser came as Romelu Lukaku found the net in the 78th minute as another Deulofeu cross found another Belgian for a goal. They seemed destined to find another as they had three great chances to take the lead. Barkley had his volley go wide of the post, Steven Naismith had his shot go wide on the counter attack and in the 90th minute Deulofeu had his curler go just wide as the teams headed into extra time. 

Lukaku saves Everton

Extra time started out slowly but Everton got things rolling when Deulofeu sent a dangerous cross into the box. Romelu Lukaku seemed to get a touch on it and it bounced into the net to Everton the lead. But then replay showed that Mark Roberts had played it into his own goal. But Barnsley would not quit as they had great chances in to equalize.

In the 107th minute, after Joel Robles made a great save to deny Barnsley the first time, Connor Hourihane hit a bullet towards Robles who tipped it off the post. It was a flurry of chances for Barnsley but Lukau finished it off to make it 5-3 and a certain win for Everton. Everton had another chance to make it 6-3 but Lukaku's cut back pass was cleared and that was the final chance of the game. 

They will play Reading in the next round of the Capital One Cup

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About the author
Vijay Vemu
Vijay is a sports journalist who covers mainly the NBA and soccer. He is a credential reporter on the Chicago Fire and also covers NBA for VAVEL as well. He is also a editor for Mash Chicago, the publication of the Chicago Tribune. He is also a contributor at SB Nation's Blog A Bull and Big East Coast Bias as well as writing on European Soccer as well. He plans on attending the University of Illnois at Chicago (UIC) in the fall with a major in computer science. You can follow him on Twitter : @VJVemu