
Everton reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since winning the trophy in 1995 after coming from behind to beat Midlesbrough.
Boro defender David Wheater stunned the home fans when he headed in a goal from a Matthew Bates cross on the stroke of half-time.
But £15 million midfielder Marouane Fellaini quickly levelled after the interval, beating keeper Brad Jones to Tim Cahill's cross with a precise headed goal.
And six minutes later, substitute Louis Saha rose unmarked to nod home the winner from Steven Pienaar's pinpoint cross, in the 56th minute.
Toffees boss David Moyes has not enjoyed much luck in the Cup since taking charge at Goodison Park after they lost their last quarter-final, also against Boro, in 2002.
Everton lost to Shrewsbury, who finished bottom of League Two, in 2003 and before this season Moyes had only taken them past the fourth round once; when they lost to Manchester United in 2005.
But he has a Wembley appearance in the semi-finals against Sir Alex Ferguson's quintuple-chasers - whom Everton beat in the final 14 years ago - to look forward to after his side put on a typically tenacious display to eventually overcome an awkward Boro side.
An Everton victory did not look the most likely outcome in the early stages, which saw the visitors adjust quickest to the blustery conditions and use the fierce wind to hold up balls over the top of the home defence.
Boro had the first effort on goal after 10 minutes, with Jeremie Aliadiere firing wastefully over the bar.
Everton's early chance came from Joseph Yobo's header which forced an early save from Jones as the first-half quickly degenerated into a turgid midfield battle.
The closest Moyes' men came to breaking the deadlock was when Pienaar's corner flew across the face of Middlesbrough's goal and deflected inches wide off Bates.
And for long stretches, the most entertaining aspect of the tie was the wrestling match that Boro defender Robert Huth had with Fellaini whenever the ball was in their vicinity.
Fellaini only escaped Huth's clutches once; when he found space at the back post but saw his header from Phil Jagielka's cross pushed away by Jones.
Toffee's boss Moyes reacted by bringing on French striker Saha off the bench at the interval and the change brought almost instant rewards.
In no time at all the home side were level when Cahill crossed from deep and Fellaini beat Huth to loop a header into the net, his fifth goal this season.
Suddenly the Boro defence appeared vulnerable, and Jones looked shaky again when he got a weak punch to a Leighton Baines free-kick, with Saha's follow-up blocked by Bates.
Everton were now looking full of confidence and it was the home side who looked more likely to score again.
Everton boss David Moyes said:
"After a talking to at half-time, the players showed what they were really about in the second half.
"Assistant boss Steve Round did a great job on them during the break. We just needed them livened up."
Meanwhile a dejected Middlesbrough boss said:
"We've got to learn how to see matches off, especially when you get the lift of being a goal ahead.
"We knew we'd face a bombardment in the second half.
"We felt we had the players to deal with it - in actual fact for that five-minute spell we didn't.
"The Cup is always a bonus for you as a club. We had nothing to lose coming here today and had a great chance to go through. We haven't taken it."
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