It took penalties to separate West Ham and Everton, with the Toffees playing the majority of the game with ten men after Aiden McGeady saw red early in the second half…
A fantastic FA Cup clash ended in penalties at Upton Park, with West Ham narrowly edging Everton out of the competition.
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Everton started in the ascendancy, and it was end to end stuff for a while. Despite a goalless first half, the match was anything but boring; the physicality attacking intent of the two teams making it a true cup tie.
Enner Valencia opened the scoring shortly after the break, the summer signing netting his first goal for the Hammers at the perfect time.
It looked as though it would be West Ham’s night, with Aiden McGeady seeing red for his second bookable offence. The Toffees star went to ground foolishly, and looked to have cost his side the game.
Just like in the first leg however, Roberto Martinez’s side scored a late goal to level things up. Second half substiute Kevin Mirallas scored a fantastic free-kick, sending us into extra time in East London.
Despite being down to ten men, Everton looked like the dominant side; piling the pressure onto Sam Allardyce’s side. Some fantastic work by Mirallas saw him break into the opposition box, and he set up Romelu Lukaku for a simple tap in.
It was West Ham’s turn to break hearts though, with late substitute Carlton Cole netting off a James Tomkins knockdown. There were a few half chances to seal the win, but the whistle eventually went; condemning both sides to the dreaded penalty shootout.
Adrian made a great save to keep Steven Naismith out early on, and it was West Ham’s to lose after that. The pressure was on Stewart Downing to win it for the home side, but he saw his tame effort saved by Joel Robles.
There were ten penalties a piece, with Robles seeing his shot crash off the crossbar and giving West Ham the advantage yet again. Adrian stepping up and emphatically sealing the win for his side.
This is the first time Sam Allardyce has ever taken West Ham past the third-round of the FA Cup, with Bristol City waiting for them in the next round.