Tosin Adarabioyo capped a commanding defensive performance by converting the winning penalty at Goodison Park as Fulham reached the League Cup semi-finals for the first time with a shoot-out success over Everton. Marco Silva’s side looked to be heading through courtesy of a first-half own goal from Michael Keane and a resolute rearguard action until substitute Beto, a summer transfer target for the Whites, headed the hosts level with eight minutes to play.

A scrappy contest came to life during seven minutes of stoppage time with Arnaut Danjuma volleying fractionally wide from eight yards before a brilliant back post intervention from Nathan Patterson prevented Bobby De Cordova-Reid from poaching the winner on the blue half of Merseyside for the second time this season. When Jordan Pickford saved from the Jamaican international in the shoot out, Amadou Onana had the chance to send the Toffees into the last four but his terrible penalty was straight at Bernd Leno. Deep into sudden death, Idrissa Gana Gueye struck the post with his effort and Tosin sent the travelling fans wild by finding the far right corner after a long wait.

Silva selected a strong line-up with Harrison Reed drafted into midfield in place of Tom Cairney as Fulham sought to win the middle battle against an Everton side, who looked a totally different proposition to the one that started the campaign having won four in a row. The visitors looked the tidier in the early stages with Rodrigo Muniz, preferred to Carlos Vinicius in the absence of Raul Jimenez, almost laying in Reed but Everton built up a head of steam midway through the first half with Dwight McNeil drilling over when he had Onana open to his right.

Jarrad Branthwaite headed into Leno’s arms after reaching a deep cross from the dangerous Jack Harrison before Willian came within inches of giving Fulham the lead when his clever free-kick crept under the wall and just wide with Pickford rooted to the spot. But the visitors went ahead a minute later with the best move of the match. Muniz did magnificently to chest down a Wilson pass and shake off the attentions of James Tarkowski, quickly switching the play out to the left where Willian had Robinson rampaging outside him and the former Everton full-back’s cross found its way in off the unfortunate Keane.

Fulham went in a goal to the good, despite Joe Garner’s free-kick evading everyone and floating fractionally wide of the far post, and initially kept possession well – successfully riling a restless home support, Harrison hammered an effort narrowly off target from 25 yards and the introduction of Beto for Calvert-Lewin, who was superbly nullified by Adarabioyo and Calvin Bassey, pushed a disciplined defensive line deeper. Adarabioyo twice headed away the danger when the substitute looked the favourite to convert crosses, but the visitors were struggling to get out of their area.

Alex Iwobi tested Pickford’s reflexes with a shot from distance but Everton came again and got their equaliser when Fulham’s back line finally caved in. Adarabioyo blocked a cross from Branthwaite but Robinson failed to clear and Garner’s shot spun off the American into the air, allowing Beto to head home in front of the Gwladys Street. That felt terminal for the Whites, but Silva’s side had already shown no signs of stagefright in beating Spurs on spot-kicks in the second round of this competition – and, thanks to Adarabioyo’s nerveless penalty, they made more history here this evening.

EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Pickford, Patterson, Branthwaite, Keane, Tarkowski; Onana, Garner, Gueye, Harrison (Danjuma 72), McNeil; Calvert-Lewin (Beto 61). Subs (not used): Lonergan, Virgínia, Godfrey, Metcalfe, Hunt, Dobbin, Chermiti.

BOOKED: Keane, Patterson.

GOAL: Beto (82).

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Adarabioyo, Bassey; Palhinha, Reed (Pereira 77); Willian (Cairney 62), Wilson (De Cordova-Reid 77), Iwobi (Diop 87); Muniz (Vinicius 87). Subs (not used): Rodak, Castagne, Ballo-Toure, Lukic.

BOOKED: Tete, Leno.

GOAL: Keane (o.g. 41).

REFEREE: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire).