Wigan Athletic made the trip to Everton this afternoon with the victor knowing that a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium awaited them.
The away side had not beaten Everton in their last nine attempts, but they went on to rip up the form book with three unanswered goals during four first-half minutes.
Maynor Figueroa opened the scoring from a corner, before Callum McManaman and Jordi Gomez netted soon after.
Everton went in search of goals after the restart, but they were unable to find a way through the Wigan defence.
You can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
11.47amMorning all. So, we've reached that stage of the FA Cup where teams are just two matches away from one of the biggest dates in the English football calender. First up is an all-Premier League encounter between Everton and Wigan Athletic.
11.50amOf course, it's not only the finalists that get to run out at Wembley anymore. Whoever wins today will play their semi-final at the famous London venue. Everton have experienced that in recent seasons, but for a club like Wigan, that would be a massive achievement.
11.52amAnyway, that is enough pre-match chat for a few minutes because the team news from Goodison Park is beginning to filter through...
11.54amEVERTON XI: Mucha; Baines, Coleman, Heitinga, Distin; Mirallas, Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini; Jelavic
11.56amThere are not many surprises in that Everton starting lineup from David Moyes. Tim Howard has failed to overcome a back injury so instead Jan Mucha will deputise in goal for the Toffees. Phil Jagielka is also absent because of the leg injury that he suffered against Reading last time out. His omission means that Jonny Heitinga will fill in at centre-back.
11.58amWIGAN XI: Robles; Alcaraz, Boyce, Figueroa, Scharner; McManaman, McCarthy, Beausejour, Gomez, Maloney; Kone
12pmAnd that is what visiting Wigan have to offer. Young Spaniard Joel Robles will start between the posts, while Callum McManaman's fine recent form has seen him handed a place on the right side of midfield. Arouna Kone, who has scored against Everton twice this season already, will play as a lone striker, with the support coming from Shaun Maloney and Jordi Gomez.
12.04pmRight, Wigan fans may want to avert their eyes for a few moments because this post will not make for pleasant reading. Your side have not managed to beat Everton during their last nine attempts either at home or away. In fact, the last time Wigan emerged victorious from this encounter was back in November 2008 when Henri Camara scored the only goal of the game.
12.08pmYou'd actually have to go even further back to find Wigan's last win at Goodison Park. That was achieved back in September 2006. Still, winning the quarter-final of the FA Cup wouldn't be a bad way to end that sequence of results, would it?
12.11pmSome Wigan supporters may be forgiven for thinking that today's match is not overly important. The bigger picture is that the club are desperate to survive in the Premier League for another season. However, in the days leading up to this game, defender Paul Scharner has insisted that it could prove to be a welcome distraction for the players.
"It's a good situation to have to break up the league fixtures with what could be a very significant moment in the history of the club," the Austrian told the club's official website.
"If we can play a good game at Goodison Park and get a victory there then we will be able to pick up our confidence again and bring it back to the league games."
12.15pmStaying with Wigan, here is what their manager Roberto Martinez has had to say leading up to this tie.
"I’m aware of everything that happens at Wigan and I want to improve it all," Martínez is quoted as saying by The Telegraph. "I like the fact my life is this football club, it is a project I’m very proud of.
"This is the first time we have been successful in cup competitions and that is down to the readiness of the young players. We put a lot of emphasis on the 18 to 21-year-olds trying to develop them. Previously we couldn’t compete when we made two or three changes.
"It has made the squad bigger and stronger. I can rotate. It shows the work we’re doing behind the scenes is paying off. Our main prize is surviving in the Premier League, but we can enjoy this cup game because the youngsters coming through.
"We made a profit this year for the first time and we will be moving into a new training ground, which is massive for the club. That enables us to keep growing. A certain percentage of the first team squad should be made up of players from the area, with foreigners who bring something different."
12.19pmOne player that Wigan may be pleased to see starting this match is Nikica Jelavic. The Croatian was deadly for Everton when he arrived from Rangers last January, but so far this year he has struggled to replicate that form. His only goal in 2013 came in this competition against League Two outfit Cheltenham Town back in January.
12.22pmOf course, Jelavic's inclusion means that there is no place in the starting lineup for Victor Anichebe, who is bound to be disappointed. The Nigerian has managed to stay fit for the majority of this campaign and has looked a handful when he has been selected.
12.26pmAnd here is who will be joining Anichebe on the two benches.
EVERTON: Springthorpe, Gibson, Naismith, Hitzlsperger, Barkley, Anichebe, Duffy
WIGAN: Al Habsi, Stam, Golobart, Di Santo, Henriquez, Miyaichi, McArthur
12.30pmHere is a stat from the guys at Opta on Twitter that indicates that we should (fingers crossed) see some goals today:
"Everton have both scored and conceded in 13 of their last 17 FA Cup games."
12.32pmAgain from Opta, don't hold your breath that any of those goals will come from Jelavic. As mentioned earlier, the Croatian international has not exactly been clinical for Everton in recent months:
"Everton striker Nikica Jelavic has netted just one goal in his last 19 hours and 38 minutes of football for the club."
12.37pmGoodison Park is now filling up nicely as we draw ever closer to the start of this tie. While some atmospheres in the Premier League are criticised, the noise levels at Everton are always pretty good and with a place in the semi-finals at stake this afternoon, it should be the same today.
12.41pmJust before we get started, David Moyes has been talking to ITV Sport. Here is some of what the Everton gaffer had to say:
"We have always had tight games against Wigan and I'm sure it will be the same today. Their is a big prize for the winner. Wigan have been playing well and they don't always get the results. There were signs last week that we were getting our form back."
12.42pmRight then, the players are now filtering out on to the pitch. Not long now until the first FA Cup quarter-final of 2013 gets off and running.
1 minGame on! Wigan, kicking from right to left, get this quarter-final started...
4 minCHANCE! So, so close for Everton. A short corner routine between Leighton Baines and Kevin Mirallas sees the latter send over a teasing cross, which is met by the head of Sylvain Distin. Unfortunately for the French defender, his effort skids just wide of the right post. Positive start from the Toffees.
8 minSince that chance for Distin and Everton, visiting Wigan have played their way into this tie. They are stroking the ball around with some authority and Maloney in particular is looking dangerous. The Scot is playing in a free role and at the moment no Everton defender is picking him up.
11 minOFF THE POST! I said nobody was marking Maloney and he was agonisingly close to making Everton pay. Having collected the ball out on the left, he cut inside and unleashed a curling shot from 20 yards out. Mucha was well beaten in the home goal, but the ball cannoned to safety off the inside of the post. He deserved much more with that effort.
15 minThis game really is being played at a fast pace at the moment. While a number of passes may not be finding their intended targets, it's still a good game to watch. Neither side is sitting back, with both looking eager to score the first goal.
18 minCHANCE! Wigan really are taking the game to Everton and should be in front. Maloney is again the threat as he crosses from the left for Kone, who leaps above the Everton defence. His timing is all wrong though and the ball flies over the bar from six yards out. The home faithful are not happy with what they've seen and they let their team know.
20 minSAVE! That is more like what the Everton supporters have been demanding. The ball breaks loose to Jelavic on the edge of the box and he instantly strikes low towards goal. Robles reacts well to push clear but it is much more positive from the home team.
24 minAnother swipe at goal from Jelavic, who volleys way over the crossbar on this occasion. While he may not have scored since early January, the Croatian certainly looks to be full of confidence today.
28 minAnother quick stat from Opta which may interest those wanting to have a flutter on this match:
"Paul Scharner has scored five goals against Everton - he has no more than two against any other side."
For a defender, that is some record. The Austrian is currently having a proper old school battle with Marouane Fellaini. They don't look to be the best of friends right now, put it that way!
29 minGOAL! Everton 0-1 Wigan (Figueroa)
31 minGOAL! Everton 0-2 Wigan (McManaman)
32 minWow! Stunning stuff from Wigan, who hit Everton twice in as many minutes. First Maynor Figueroa rises highest inside the area to convert a corner from close range, before Callum McManaman capitalises on a big error from Phil Neville to race clear before beating Mucha with ease. Superb stuff.
33 minGOAL! Everton 0-3 Wigan (Gomez)
36 minIs this Barcelona in disguise playing Everton? Because Wigan have just scored a third goal in four minutes that the Spanish league leaders would have been massively proud of. The Latics make the home side chase shadows before the ball drops to Jordi Gomez on the edge of the area. Most players would have gone for power but instead the Wigan midfielder simply guides the ball into the bottom corner of the net with one of the coolest finishes you are ever likely to see. Goodison Park is stunned.
39 minSUBSTITUTION: After that mental five minutes or so, Wigan have just received a blow as McManaman is forced to limp off with an ankle injury. The winger had been brilliant up until this point. He is replaced by Arsenal loanee Ryo Miyaichi, who has just returned from a four-month spell on the sidelines.
41 minBOOKING! Two of them to be precise. Both Neville and Osman take their frustrations out with late challenges that referee Kevin Friend quite rightly punishes with yellow cards. You'd expect better from those two because they are senior professionals - that is hardly leading by example.
44 minSAVE! It was almost 4-0! Maloney weighs up his options with a free kick 30 yards from goal and decides to shoot. The ball loops dangerously towards the far post, but Mucha just gets across his line to tip the ball over the bar for a corner, which comes to nothing.
45 minThere will be a minimum of three minutes of stoppage time here at Goodison Park. You feel that Everton need to find the net before the half-time whistle to stand any chance of rescuing something from this tie.
45+3 minHALF-TIME: Everton 0-3 Wigan
1.36pmJeers ring out around Goodison as the referee blows for half-time. Those Everton fans that have remained - some have already walked out - are not happy with what they have seen and you can understand why. Their side has shipped three goals and been outclassed in every department by a side that is fighting hard to stay in the Premier League.
1.39pmAnd another thing - I would not want to be in that Everton dressing room right now. It's fair to say that David Moyes will be fuming with his players and the language is bound to be rather on the colourful side.
1.40pmLet's take nothing away from Wigan though. They have been brilliant and it is doubtful that they have produced a better 45 minutes of football all season - maybe even since Martinez took charge. They are now so close to a semi-final at Wembley, which would be the first in the club's history. Surely they won't blow this, will they?!
1.43pmHere is how former Chelsea, Celtic and Scotland midfielder Craig Burley saw that half over on BBC Sport:
"That was Wigan's best 45 minutes of the season. For all Everton's good football this season, they have produced their worst half of football.
"Everton will have to make some changes at half-time, or else Moyes just giving them the proverbial rocket. I will be astonished if they can turn this around from here, but of they do this game will be a cracker."
1.46pmQuite simply, Everton have to score early in the second half if they have any chance of turning this around. That could place doubt into the mind of some of the Wigan players and then you never know what might happen. As hard as it is, the crowd also need to get behind their team.
1.50pmSUBSTITUTION: Moyes has reacted to that shambolic first half by taking off captain Phil Neville, who was extremely poor, and bringing on Anichebe. It looks as though Everton will play with three strikers for the remainder of the tie.
45 minEverton, needing three goals to force a replay, start the second half...
47 minMore of the same at the start of the second half from Wigan. A quick counter-attack ends with Kone striking goalwards from 25 yards out. His effort is lacking in power though and Mucha is able to collect with relative ease. Not the start that Everton wanted nonetheless.
50 minBOOKING! One of the clearest bookings you will ever see. Having given the ball away to Mirallas, Wigan attacker Maloney then decides to upend the Belgian, leaving Kevin Friend with little choice but to caution the Scot. The resultant free kick sees Baines drill the ball straight at Robles in the Wigan net.
53 minAs you'd expect, Everton are now doing a lot of pushing but with limited success so far. If they can just find one goal, the belief will surge through Goodison. You can't rule out Wigan though because as they showed in the first half they can be deadly on the break.
55 minDo Croatia have a cricket team? I only ask because Jelavic has just caught the ball in a way that any fielder standing in the deep would have been proud of! The Everton striker then had the cheek to look shocked when the referee blew for a free kick! He was actually lucky to escape a yellow card.
57 minBOOKING! It's a harsh decision from Kevin Friend, who shows Fellaini a yellow card following a challenge with Maloney. It looked as though the Wigan attacker ran into his Everton counterpart, leaving the big Belgian nowhere to go. He's not happy to have been cautioned and you can understand why.
61 minA message from former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill on Twitter:
"They say its a game of two halves. Well time to show what the Blues are made of."
63 minEverton may have seen a lot of the ball during this half so far, but it is hard to recall any saves that Robles has had to make. Apart from the low free kick that was struck by Baines, the young Spanish keeper has had a quiet time in the Wigan net. From an Everton point of view, that clock is beginning to tick by quickly as well.
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65 minSAVE! And there is a warning to Everton that Wigan are not done just yet. The home side fail to clear a corner and the ball eventually drops to Figueroa 18 yards from goal. He doesn't connect cleanly though and Mucha is able to hold his tame shot.
68 minSUBSTITUTION: Massive jeers ring out as Darron Gibson comes on for Everton. However, the home faithful are not unhappy to see the Irishman come on, it's the fact that he is replacing Fellaini. Granted the Belgian was quiet, but he is always a goal threat. He isn't best pleased either and has stormed down the tunnel.
72 minIt's just not happening for Everton. Baines, so usually assured in the wide area, sends over a cross that is ahead of his teammates and Robles is able to dive out and halt the danger. Time is rapidly running out for the hosts.
74 minSUBSTITUTION: The sub has been subbed. Wigan's Ryo has picked up an ankle injury following a challenge with Mirallas and cannot continue any longer. His place has gone to James McArthur, who will probably take up a more central role, with Maloney moving out wide.
75 minDISALLOWED GOAL! Everton think they are back in it, but the linesman's flag ensures that they are not. It's Mirallas who rolls the ball into the net with a neat finish, but he was clearly in an offside position as he raced beyond the Wigan defence.
79 minSUBSTITUTION: Final change of the afternoon for Everton and again it is not popular one with the supporters. The player to be hooked on this occasion is Mirallas, who has been replaced by youngster Ross Barkley. He could make himself an instant hero here if he can somehow score a goal or two.
83 minThe Wigan faithful are now singing about heading to Wembley and it looks a fairly safe bet that they will be. Their team has done a brilliant job of thwarting most of the attacks that Everton have made since the restart. They weren't given much of a chance going into this tie but they fully deserve to be in the last four.
87 minYou have to wonder if this may be Moyes's last season in charge of Everton. He is refusing to sign a contract at the moment, with some believing that he has taken the club as far as he can. A run to the final of the FA Cup may have changed things, but that will not happen now. It's a shame, because he has done a fantastic job at Goodison Park.
90 minSUBSTITUTION: There will be four minutes of stoppage time as Wigan take off Alcaraz and replace him with Roman Golobart.
90+2 minCHANCE! That just about sums it up for Everton. With Robles on the floor, Seamus Coleman has a great chance to pull one back for the home side. As it was, his headed effort goes well wide of the target from just six yards out. Dear oh dear.
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90+4 minFULL TIME: Everton 0-3 Wigan
2.42pmMore loud jeers as the whistle is blown for the end of this tie. Goodison Park is not a happy place to be right now. Everton were well beaten and their dreams of winning the FA Cup for the first time since 1995 are over. It will sting even more because they were considered strong favourites to overcome Wigan.
2.44pmOn the other hand, Wigan were brilliant and were a joy to watch, especially during the first half. They are now in the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in the club's history. What a job Martinez has done at the DW Stadium.
2.45pmThat's all we have time for from a gloomy Goodison. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and be sure to stick with Sports Mole throughout the rest of the day for coverage of all the football from at home and abroad. Enjoy!
