Adrian scores unlikely winner as West Ham oust Everton on penalties
Goalkeeper Adrian was the unlikely match-winner for West Ham as the Spaniard scored the deciding penalty after the Hammers and 10-man Everton had battled tooth and nail for a place in the FA Cup fourth round.
Having already played out a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park, this replay provided more drama as the sides continued to trade blows all the way to round 10 of an enthralling penalty shoot-out, winning it 9-8 after a 2-2 draw in the 120 minutes.
Everton's own goalkeeper Joel Robles had made a number of key saves during the game but his spot-kick came back off the crossbar and he was unable to keep out Adrian's effort as Sam Allardyce's side set up a fourth-round date with Bristol City. Kevin Mirallas looked to have inspired the visitors to an unlikely win after coming off the bench to score and provide an assist - taking the game into extra-time with a stunning free-kick with eight minutes remaining to cancel out Enner Valencia's opener.
He then crossed for Romelu Lukaku to continue his fine goalscoring record against the Hammers as Everton made light of their numerical disadvantage in the added half-hour. But, after Everton were refused a penalty, West Ham's own substitute Carlton Cole poked home an equaliser just 100 seconds after coming off the bench.
That took the game into a penalty shoot-out and the teams still struggled to be separated until the goalkeepers were called on to decide the game. As in the initial tie, West Ham appeared set for victory after Valencia's first Upton Park goal set them on their way, with Aiden McGeady's red card moments later making another Everton comeback unlikely.
Lukaku had struck in the closing seconds last week to set-up this replay and it was his fellow Belgian Mirallas who came off the bench to draw the visitors level with a fantastic free-kick eight minutes from full-time. The duo then combined midway through the first period of extra-time, with Lukaku - who pointed to the sky having lost close friend Junior Malanda at the weekend when the Wolfsburg midfielder died in a car accident - scoring for a fifth game running against the Hammers.
But West Ham were not finished and hit back through Cole before Adrian kept his cool to put his side into the next round and end Everton's hopes with West Ham's 10th penalty of the shoot-out. The Toffees started the game on the front foot as West Ham, and Alex Song in particular, were guilty of surrendering possession too easily.
But the visitors were nearly made to pay as Valencia pinched the ball off John Stones, running through on goal and drawing a fine save from Joel - with Carroll flagged offside from the rebound. Stewart Downing scuffed an untidy effort wide of Joel's right-hand post before the former Liverpool man provided a clever cross into Song but his fierce shot was blocked by the unwitting Valencia.
Collins, who had opened the scoring in the initial tie, was unable to control an effort early in the second half as he latched onto Carroll's knock-down. The hosts were ahead moments later as Carroll collected Noble's raking pass and played in Valencia - who kept his cool to steer the ball past Joel for his first goal since Nov. 1.
Everton's job of rescuing the game was made harder as McGeady was shown a second yellow card for sliding in on Mark Noble, having been booked at the end of the first half for bringing down Matt Jarvis. But Lukaku charged down Collins' attempted clearance before crossing to Mirallas - who saw his shot brilliantly blocked by James Tomkins.
Having been culpable at one end, Collins came close to wrapping up the tie as he powered a header from a Downing corner, with Joel acrobatically tipping his effort over. It was a busy few minutes for Collins, who conceded a free-kick on the edge of his own box for fouling Lukaku and Mirallas stepped up to bend the ball past Adrian and level the game.
West Ham pushed for a winner and Noble saw a clever free-kick well saved by Joel as he looked to sneak the ball in at his near post. That started a siege on the Everton goal, with FA Cup winner Joel again performing heroics to keep out West Ham skipper Kevin Nolan's hooked volley.
It was the 10 men who struck early in extra time as Lukaku, who had come close seconds before, turned Mirallas' cross past Adrian. The Toffees should have had a penalty early in the second additional period as referee Neil Swarbrick consulted with his assistant and awarded a free-kick for a Tomkins foul on Mirallas - although the contact, if indeed there was any, came inside the box.
West Ham were struggling to make their numerical advantage tell until Cole was thrown on for Collins and made an instant impact as he was on hand to poke Tomkins' header past Joel from close range. Carroll saw a header deflected behind shortly afterwards and yet again Joel kept his side in the game as he pushed away a Morgan Amalfitano drive in the final minute, moments after team-mates Tomkins and Noble had to be pulled apart for arguing following an Everton attack.
An almighty goalmouth scramble saw Cole divert the ball inches wide with the last chance before the game went down to a shootout. Steven Naismith missed Everton's second penalty and West Ham had the chance to progress but Downing's tame fifth spot-kick was easily saved to move the tie into sudden death.
Still the sides could not be separated until the 10th kick and the goalkeepers. Joel stepped up first and sent his effort crashing into the bar, with Adrian the hero as he stepped up ahead of Tomkins to finally decide the contest.
