Adrian to the rescue for West Ham

West Ham 2 Everton 2 (aet)

Adrian to the rescue for West Ham

West Ham 2 Everton 2 (aet)

West Ham win 9-8 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.

West Ham United's Enner Valencia scores his side's first goal of the game during the FA Cup Third Round replay match at Upton Park.

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.

Everton's Gareth Barry has a shot on goal during the FA Cup Third Round replay match at Upton Park, London

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.

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