Aston Villa 1-2 Everton

Aston Villa exited the Carabao Cup at the third round stage on Wednesday night, losing to Everton at Villa Park.

James Garner hammered the away side into a 15^th-minute lead, with Robin Olsen making two fine saves as the Toffees enjoyed the better of the first half.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin rolled home their second of the night five minutes into the second half.

Villa hit back through Boubacar Kamara's first goal for the club with seven minutes remaining to set up a grandstand finish, but the hosts couldn’t breakthrough despite late chances for Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz.

Villa were aiming to reach round four for the first time since the 2020/21 campaign, and Unai Emery named a strong team as he looked to guide his side past the Toffees.

And it was one of his five changes, Youri Tielemans, who signaled the home side’s intent after eight minutes when his dipping half-volley landed on top of the net with Jordan Pickford beaten.

Everton were well backed by a big travelling support in the North Stand, and they gave their fans something to cheer when they took the lead on 15 minutes.

Garner capitalised on the hosts’ failure to clear their lines, collecting a through ball from Amadou Onana before lashing it past Olsen.

Villa’s goalkeeper spent a season on loan at the Merseysiders earlier in his career, and the Swede made two sensational saves to keep his former club at bay as the game headed towards half-time.

First, he showed great reactions to block John McGinn’s goal bound clearance before coming to the rescue again moments later by denying Calvert-Lewin one-on-one after the striker had sprung the offside trap.

Ollie Watkins, Kamara and Lucas Digne were introduced for the second half for the home side, while the Toffees brought on former Villan Ashley Young.

Everton, fresh from picking up their first Premier League win of the season on the weekend, doubled their lead five minutes after the restart when Calvert-Lewin pounced on a loose pass and sprinted through on goal, sliding the ball past Olsen.

Villa responded by creating their best chance of the night, working the ball from left to right to Diaby before the Frenchman’s shot was kept out by the feet of Pickford.

Despite the home side dominating possession, the visitors had defended resolutely until they were finally breached with seven minutes remaining.

Kamara was given the freedom of Villa Park to line up a shot from outside the box as the ball broke to him following a corner, and the midfielder’s low drive took a deflection as it wrong footed Pickford and rolled into the goal.

The home crowd sensed another comeback was on the cards, and Villa piled on the pressure in the time that remained.

Diaby called Pickford into a save with a powerful effort and Luiz fired over when well-placed inside the box, but it wasn't to be as Villa exited the competition.