West Ham	1 - 2	Everton
Scorers Cole 12  Booked Neill 66	Half Time ( 1 - 1 )	Scorers Osman 40 Yakubu 88

Yakubu scored his fourth goal in two games when he poked into the net with a couple of minutes left to send Everton into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.

It was the first of two meetings between the sides in the space of four days as they meet again at Upton Park in Saturday’s Premiership clash. And both managers selected strong sides in the hope that a victory in London would spur them on to some silverware as well as give them the psychological advantage for the weekend game.

Everton started the better side in London as they looked to stretch their unbeaten run towards a dozen games. They put the earlier pressure on the Hammers and Mikel Arteta was again exerting his influence and he crossed for Yakubu, but the Nigerian could only head wide of the post.

But West Ham got themselves back into the game and were handed a goal by some loose Everton defending. As Lucas Neill delivered a long ball over the top of the defence, they stood and ball-watched as Carlton Cole ran on to it. Tim Howard ran out into no-man’s land and Cole scored to put the hosts ahead after 12 minutes.

After the goal, neither side could create much front of the keepers as the two sides cancelled each other in the middle of the pitch. Everton looked more threatening in possession but weren’t able to do enough with the ball to get it up to the front with any conviction.

Luis Boa Morte had the best chance of the next 25 minutes or so but he blazed over from the edge of the area in a largely forgettable half in terms of action.

The visitors finally managed to break through the Hammers’ resistance five minutes before half-time thanks to Steven Pienaar. The hugely impressive South African, who this week spoke of his wish to stay at Goodison Park on a permanent deal, found Leon Osman on the edge of the box and the midfielder curled in an equaliser.

Everton could’ve found themselves going into the break with a crucial lead but Tim Cahill headed wide at the far post as he met another cross from Arteta.

The second-half promised little and delivered even less as neither side could force the opposition’s goalkeeper into breaking sweat with the two sides eventually cancelling each other out.

Everton again started the half well and showed some useful possession but as the half wound down, so did their effort.

In a half lacking entertainment of virtually any kind, it sprung briefly to life after an hour when Joleon Lescott’s strong challenge of Cole brought penalty appeals from West Ham. But the referee appeared to make the right decision by ignoring the vigorous attempts to influence him. And once the incident had died, the half slipped back into its mediocrity.

When it looked as though the game would stumble towards the final whistle and the prospect of a replay if the sides couldn’t muster up an ounce of action between them, Everton stole a vital goal thanks to a lapse in concentration at the back.

Yakubu pounced on a horrible defensive mix-up after 88 minutes to score the winning goal and complete the comeback for Everton. There was a nightmare mix-up between Robert Green and Danny Gabbidon as a lack of communication between the two resulted in the defender letting the ball bounce before heading it through the hands of the keeper. And the big Nigerian was able to score a simple goal to send Everton through to the last four.

West Ham will feel harshly done to after taking the lead and having a penalty appeal turned down. But they were just as disappointing as the visitors in the second-half and failed take advantage on their home territory. As the game progressed it seemed more and more likely that it would be decided by a mistake and unfortunately for West Ham it was their mistake which cost the game and a semi-final place.

David Moyes was understandably delighted as his side came from behind to claim victory in East London. They were the better side on the night and although they weren’t particularly inspiring for much of the second-half, their persistence paid dividends in the end and Yakubu showed why his manager was willing to pay so much for him.


West Ham: Green, Neill, McCartney, Gabbidon, Upson, Ljungberg, Parker, Mullins, Boa Morte (Reid 67), Cole (Pantsil 76), Ashton.

Subs Not Used: Wright, Noble, Spector.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Jagielka, Osman, Arteta, Cahill, Carsley, Pienaar, Yakubu.

Subs Not Used: Wessels, Hibbert, Johnson, Gravesen, Anichebe.

Att: 28,777

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

By Ben Hughes