Ogbonna the hero for West Ham in thrilling FA Cup win

Tuesday 09 Feb 2016
West Ham United celebrate Angelo Ogbonna's winner over Liverpool

Angelo Ogbonna scored his first West Ham United goal in the dying seconds of extra time to see off Liverpool in their Emirates FA Cup fourth round replay.

Michail Antonio volleyed the Hammers ahead on the stroke of half time, but Philippe Coutinho levelled shortly after the restart with a cheeky free-kick that crept under the wall – the first goal Liverpool have scored in four matches against West Ham this season.

But, with a penalty shootout seemingly set to decide the winner of this pulsating Cup tie, Ogbonna popped up to score his first goal since a summer move from Juventus and set up a fifth round trip to Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham United 2-1 Liverpool

The Emirates FA Cup
Fourth Round Proper replay
Tuesday 9 February 2016
Boleyn Ground, West Ham United
Winners receive £90,000 from prize fund
Live on BT Sport
By Josh Richards

Darren Randolph thwarting Christian Benteke was the running theme of the first meeting. 

And, once the action got started after former England manager and West Ham defender Ron Greenwood was remembered with a minute’s applause a decade on from his passing aged 84, it took 15 minutes for their battle to reignite with the Ireland stopper beating away a volley from the Belgian at his near post.

A minute later Joey O’Brien, making his first start for the hosts since July, struck the base of the near post with a low drive that deflected off Lucas, being deployed for the night in an unfamiliar role at the heart of the Liverpool defence.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was back in the dugout just days after surgery on a burst appendix and the performances of his young players will have no doubt made him feel a little better. 

Joao Carlos Teixeira was next to try his luck, but a low drive from 12 yards flew wide, while Coutinho went closer, hitting the outside of the post with a first-time effort.

Randolph then kept out a powerful header from Benteke as momentum remained with the visitors. 

West Ham

West Ham's Darren Randolph makes another save against Liverpool

But it was West Ham though, who were inches away from taking the lead as Dimitri Payet rattled the post with a 25-yard free-kick before Simon Mignolet punched away Antonio’s header from the rebound.

And on the stroke of half time, West Ham took the lead when Enner Valencia stood a cross up to the far post and Antonio volleyed it back across goal and into the corner.

Klopp sent his players out early for the second half and, with a flea in their ear, they took just three minutes to draw level.

After Benteke was tripped on the edge of the box, Coutinho fired the consequent free-kick underneath the wall and beyond a flat-footed Randolph.

Liverpool

Liverpool's players celebrate Philippe Coutinho's free-kick to equalise at West Ham

The second half became end-to-end with both desperate for a place in the last 16 without having to negotiate extra time and Benteke saw a half volley blocked by O’Brien and Mignolet cleared the ball from Antonio’s path. 

Klopp rolled the dice on the hour, introducing England striker Daniel Sturridge from the bench for his first appearance since early December.

And with ten minutes remaining, Benteke’s 20-yard free-kick was comfortably pushed away by arch nemesis Randolph as the game went to extra time.

West Ham were first to go close in the additional 30 minutes, with Mignolet at full stretch to deny Mark Noble from 25 yards.

Then Benteke twice failed to ripple the net in quick succession, as first he volleyed wide from the edge of the box and the, with only Randolph to beat, fired at the stopper.

But West Ham won it with penalties just seconds away. Payet whipped a free-kick in from the right flank and Ogbonna rose highest to head the ball back across goal and into the corner.

West Ham: (4-3-3): Darren Randolph, Joey O’Brien, Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell, Cheikhou Kouyate, Mark Noble, Pedro Obiang, Michail Antonio, Dimitri Payet, Enner Valencia.

Substitutes: James Collins for Reid 65, Andy Carroll for Kouyate 74, Victor Moses for O’Brien 82

Substitutes not used: Adrian, Reece Oxford, Josh Cullen, Djair Parfitt-Williams

Goals: Michael Antonio 45, Angelo Ogbonna 120+1

Liverpool: (4-2-3-1): Simon Mignolet, Jon Flanagan, Lucas, Tiago Ilori, Brad Smith, Kevin Stewart, Pedro Chirivella, Jordon Ibe, Joao Carlos Teixeira, Philippe Coutinho, Christian Benteke

Substitutes: Daniel Sturridge for Teixeira 58, Divock Origi for Coutinho 58, James Milner for Chirivella 100

Substitutes not used: Danny Ward, Jose Enrique, Jordan Henderson, Connor Randall

Goals: Philippe Coutinho 48

Attendance: 34,433

Referee: Roger East

Emirates FA Cup highlights: West Ham United 2-1 Liverpool

 


By FA Staff