PRAISE THE ROEFS

Robin is shootout hero as Toffees melt

- BY CARL MARKHAM

ROBIN ROEFS was Sunderland's hero as Everton's FA Cup hopes came to a premature end once again after three woeful penalties in a shootout saw the Black Cats reach round four.

David Moyes' threadbare squad looked like exiting in normal time until James Garner's 89th-minute spot-kick cancelled out Enzo Le Fee's brilliant first-half curling strike.

But extra time was the last thing the hosts - down to just 12 senior players needed and when the shootout came around Garner, Thierno Barry and Beto all saw their efforts saved by Roefs. Le Fee, Granit Xhaka and Luke O'Nien confidently scored their first three attempts to help Sunderland into the fourth round for only the second time in 11 seasons.

It was a hammer blow to Everton, who were dragged back into the game by Adam Aznou, a £7.8million signing from Valladolid in the summer, who had not had a sniff of first-team action.