West Ham 2 Everton 2 AET West Ham win 9-8 on penalties
Goalkeeper Adrian was the hero as West Ham knocked Everton out of the FA Cup in a dramatic penalty shootout. In a tense battle of wits that was threatening to rival Liverpool's epic shootout with Middlesbrough earlier this season, the Spanish goalkeeper threw his gloves to the ground before firing the ball past Joel Robles, his opposite number, who had crashed his penalty against the crossbar seconds earlier. It was an unlikely end to what had been a hugely entertaining cup game.
Everton fought back from a goal and a man down to force extra-time in a dramatic third-round replay. A wonderful free-kick from Kevin Mirallas equalised with eight minutes remaining, cancelling out Enner Valencia’s opener for West Ham, despite a red card for Aiden McGeady.
The Republic of Ireland international was sent off for two bookable offences and Sam Allardyce’s side were thwarted late-on by a series of fine saves from Robles.
Everton's current malaise, albeit one that was stemmed with a decent performance against Manchester City on Saturday, has heightened the appetite for a cup run this season, and 3,000 Everton supporters were in situ for a game that began at frantic pace. Still, there were few chances in the first half. West Ham took the lead in the 51st minute. The game had swung from one end to another and after Romelu Lukaku had been caught offside for Everton, West Ham broke quickly to deliver a decisive blow.
Deep position
Carroll received the ball in a deep position and slid Valencia into the right side of the penalty area. Valencia showed good strength to hold off John Stones and shot accurately across goal and into Robles’s bottom right corner.
Soon after, things went from bad to worse for Everton. McGeady, who had appeared a bright spark in the first-half, was shown a red card for successive cautions, the first for a foul on Jarvis early on and the second a late slide on Mark Noble.
Soon West Ham were making their numerical advantage pay, Aaron Cresswell firing a left-foot shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
The away side did, however, begin to threaten with 12 minutes remaining and Kevin Mirallas’s effort from inside the six-yard box was blocked following a pull-back from Lukaku.
Everton were spurred on and did not have to wait long before they were level. West Ham had barely been able to draw breath following an excellent save by Robles to deny James Collins when Lukaku was hauled down on the left edge of the area. Up stepped Mirallas to finish wonderfully into the top corner.
West Ham almost won it before extra-time, Noble’s low free-kick turned away at the near post by Robles, who produced another fine save with two minutes remaining to tip over an acrobatic effort from Kevin Nolan. In extra time, Everton defied their numerical disadvantage by taking a surprise lead after Mirallas, cutting in brilliantly from the left, presented Lukaku with a simple tap-in.
But just when it looked like a shock was on the cards up popped Carton Cole to make it 2-2 after the Everton defence failed to clear from a corner.
Sam Allardyce’s side will head to Bristol City in the fourth round on January 25th as the League One promotion hopefuls saw off Doncaster 2-0 at Ashton Gate courtesy of a brace from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.
The 24-year-old midfielder first followed up on the rebound after an Aden Flint header was beaten away by Marko Marosi in the 36th minute, before firing home with a superb finish in the 79th minute.
