Jelavic strike helps Everton set up all-Merseyside semi-final

Striker Nikica Jelavic helped to book Everton an FA Cup semi-final date at Wembley with arch-rivals Liverpool as Sunderland’s dreams turned to dust last night.

The Croatia international fired the visitors ahead in their quarter-final replay after 24 minutes, but then passed up a series of opportunities to add to his tally on a night when the men from Merseyside were more than a match for their hosts.

It took a 56th-minute own goal from Black Cats substitute David Vaughan to ease David Moyes’ men further clear, and although the Wearsiders battled all the way to the whistle in front of a boisterous crowd of 43,140, there was no way back.