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FA Cup: Adrian breaks Everton hearts

West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian proved an unlikely match-winner as his side edged 10-man Everton 9-8 in a nail-biting penalty shootout after a gripping FA Cup third round replay on Tuesday.

Enner Valencia put West Ham ahead early in the second half at Upton Park and Everton then had Aiden McGeady sent off, only for Kevin Mirallas’s late free-kick to send the tie to extra time. Mirallas teed up Romelu Lukaku to put the visitors in front, but West Ham substitute Carlton Cole made it 2-2 and the hosts prevailed when Adrian netted his spot-kick in the ensuing shootout after his opposite number Joel Robles had hit the bar.

Sam Allardyce’s side now face a fourth-round trip to Bristol City, who won 2-0 at home to fellow third-tier representatives Doncaster Rovers courtesy of a brace from former Arsenal forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. In the tie-breaker, Adrian saved Everton’s second spot-kick, plunging to his right to thwart Steven Naismith, but Downing spurned a chance to settle the tie when his low penalty was kept out by Robles. With the score 8-8, Robles stepped up, only to send his effort crashing against the bar.

The job of sending West Ham through fell to Adrian and after nonchalantly jettisoning his gloves in his run-up, he sent Robles the wrong way to put the east London club in the fourth round for the first time since 2011.
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