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A dramatic evening of FA Cup action was decided on sudden-death penalties as West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian secured his side a trip to Bristol City from the spot.
Having taken the lead through Enner Valencia, the Hammers almost saw their Cup dreams end as ten-man Everton took the lead through Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku.
But a late equaliser at the end of extra-time from sub Carlton Cole ensured the outcome would be decided from 12 yards.
With the shootout scores level at 8-8, the shotstoppers put on their shooting boots.
Toffees No1 Joel Robles went first, crashing his kick against the bar before Adrian strode forward to send his opposite man the wrong way and his side into the Fourth Round.
Everton started brightly, buoyed on by a travelling army of supporters of over 3,000, but only had Ross Barkley’s deflected 20-yard drive to show for their efforts.
Toffees centre-half John Stones was caught napping by Enner Valencia on 15 minutes as the Ecuadorian forward stole the ball from the youngster on the edge of the box and burst through one-on-one with Robles, but the keeper saved well as the ball looped upwards.
Andy Carroll reacted quickest with a header, but his effort struck the woodwork before the danger was cleared.
The home side took control of the contest, but they were unable to convert their pressure into an opener before half-time due to a combination of poor crossing and errant final balls.
The tide continued to go with Sam Allardyce’s side after the restart, and minutes in James Collins was presented with an opportunity to get himself on the scoresheet, but he fired over the bar on the turn after meeting a Carroll knockdown at a corner.
The groans following the miss quickly turned to cheers on 51 minutes as West Ham got the breakthrough they deserved.
Carroll collected possession deep inside the Everton half and fed a pass through to Valencia – and the livewire forward held off the challenge of Stones, took a touch to his right and rifled a low strike across goal inside the far post.
Lukaku showed Roberto Martinez’s side were not prepared to go down without a fight as he sent a fierce drive straight at keeper Adrian.
But he and his team-mates task was made all the harder a minute later they were reduced to ten men – Aiden McGeady picking up his second caution after fouls on Matt Jarvis and Mark Noble.
The visitors brought on Kevin Mirallas and Bryan Oviedo in an attempt to offer them further attacking impetus, and the former almost levelled – but his shot from only a few yards out was brilliantly blocked by James Tomkins.
Not to be denied, the sub was to become the hero as he produced a sublime effort to draw Everton level from a set-piece.
Collins fouled Lukaku 25-yards out on the corner of the box. Pushing usual set-piece specialist Leighton Baines aside, Mirallas curled a beautiful strike into the top corner to spark wild celebrations in front of the away fans behind the goal.
Extra-time took only seven minutes to explode into life as Everton turned the game on its head.
Lukaku, seconds after failing to adjust his feet in time to pounce on a loose ball four yards out, was the scorer – knocking home from close-range after fine work by Mirallas down the left to provide the low cross.
Allardyce threw caution to the wind, taking off defender Collins and replacing him with striker Cole – and it paid off within seconds.
A corner was swung into the area and flicked into the path of the sub, and he converted from close-range with his first touch.
With seconds left before penalties, Lukaku almost nicked it after a powerful run through the West Ham defence before dragging his shot past the post.
Cole then scrambled an effort wide in the dying moments – but it would take spot-kicks to separate these two sides.
Following Steven Naismith’s miss for Everton, Downing had the chance to win it with the final kick of the five, but his effort was saved forcing it into sudden death.
Both sides continued to convert until it reached eight apiece, and Adrian’s moment to steal the headlines following Robles’ miss.
West Ham United (4-2-3-1): 13 Adrian; 18 Carl Jenkinson, 5 James Tomkins, 19 James Collins, 3 Aaron Cresswell; 16 Mark Noble (C), 30 Alex Song; 31 Enner Valencia, 11 Stewart Downing, 7 Matt Jarvis; 9 Andy Carroll.
Subs: 4 Kevin Nolan for Song 60; 21 Morgan Amalfitano for Jarvis 69; 24 Carlton Cole for Collins 111.
Subs not used: 22 Jussi Jaaskelainen, 12 Ricardo Vaz Te, 17 Joey O’Brien, 32 Reece Burke.
Bookings: Nolan 72.
Goals: Valenia 51; Cole 113.
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