As bad as it was for select Premier League sides in the FA Cup 4th Round on Saturday, perhaps the worst of fates was not suffered on the pitch itself.
Everton manager Marco Silva must deal with his squad’s inconsolable result against Millwall FC, following a fixture in which Toffees took a 2-1 lead on Cenk Tosun’s goal in the 72nd minute.
But at least Silva didn’t blow close to his entire stake gambling on Everton in the 74th.
Toffees, already odds-on to win the match, became prohibitive live-betting favorites after Tosun’s tally seemed to promise a 5th Round appearance. But Millwall battled back, buoyed by tens of thousands of roaring supporters in a grisly downpour at The Den. A disputed goal from backliner Jake Cooper leveled the score less than 180 seconds later, and bettors who had wagered on Millwall at high-payoff odds were overjoyed when Murray Wallace tapped-in a previously-struck, rolling free kick for the winner in the 94th minute.
Meanwhile, live bettors who made made what they thought was a “safe” in-play on a very low-payout wager on Everton with 20 minutes remaining got a nasty surprise.
Everton wasn’t the only Premiership club to fall to a lower-tier opponent on Saturday. AFC Wimbledon hosted West Ham with the Hammers favored by more than a goal, but the “Dons,” or “Wombles” reached the 5th Round instead following a 4-2 upset win that featured a pair of tallies from unheralded attacker Scott Wagstaff.
In other FA Cup action this weekend, Manchester United beat Arsenal 3-1, Man City burned Burnley 5-0, Watford walloped Newcastle 2-0, and Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolves are headed for 4th Round replays following respective 0-0 and 2-2 results against West Brom and Shrewsbury.
Photo from YouTube.
