West Ham United 2 - 1 Liverpool

10.02.2016 10:30

Angelo Ogbonna's extra-time header put West Ham into the last 16 of the FA Cup with a dramatic fourth-round replay win against Liverpool.

The Hammers led before half-time when Michail Antonio guided in Enner Valencia's cross at the far post.

Liverpool responded shortly after the restart when Philippe Coutinho's low free-kick sneaked under the home wall.

Both sides hit the woodwork in an open tie, before Ogbonna met Dimitri Payet's free-kick to delight the home fans.

The Hammers will visit Championship side Blackburn in the fifth round on Sunday, 21 February.

Magic of the cup?

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has said he would rather win the FA Cup than finish in the Premier League top four, and he showed his intent by picking a near full-strength side against an inexperienced Liverpool team.

Reds counterpart Jurgen Klopp, as he had in his previous three FA Cup matches, rang the changes with only goalkeeper Simon Mignolet surviving from Saturday's Premier League draw against Sunderland.

But any worries - for the neutral observer, at least - that the hosts would dominate their youthful opponents proved unfounded.

The two sides were evenly matched throughout the 120 minutes as a high-tempo game, containing plenty of goalscoring chances and drama, provided a sharp contrast to the dour 0-0 draw at Anfield.

Either side could have nicked an extra-time winner, with Christian Benteke missing three clear-cut opportunities for Liverpool.

And former Juventus defender Ogbonna's first Hammers goal provided the perfect finale for the hosts in what might be the final FA Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground before their move to the Olympic Stadium.

(BBC)

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