Paul Ifill got Millwall out of jail with a late winner against Third Division
Cambridge in a FA Cup third round replay at the New Den.
Millwall twice came from behind against a side 43 places below them in the
Football League, who had earned a 1-1 draw at the Abbey Stadium 10 days ago.
The match exploded into life with three goals in four second-half minutes
after Cambridge had frustrated dominant Millwall for the best part of an hour.
First Dave Kitson put the visitors in front, then Steve Claridge equalised
from the penalty spot, before Tom Youngs put Cambridge back in the lead.
Paul Robinson pulled the home side level for the second time with his first
senior goal in his second start, exactly a week after his 21st birthday.
And Ifill hit his second goal in successive games with 13 minutes left to
complete a stunning comeback and set up a fourth round clash with Southampton.
Millwall went into the tie unbeaten on home ground in eight matches and opened
the match with an early spell of sustained pressure.
But Cambridge coped comfortably and showed some nice touches going forward.
Millwall were becoming frustrated and David Livermore was lucky to escape
punishment after a waist-high challenge on Kitson which left the Cambridge
striker needing treatment on the pitch.
Kevin Braniff headed wastefully over the crossbar from six yards in the 25th
minute after visiting goalkeeper Shaun Marshall missed a Dennis Wise cross from
the right.
He did the same again shortly afterwards after Cambridge had escaped a scare
when Fred Murray deflected Ifill's shot narrowly wide.
But Marshall pulled off an excellent diving save to deny former Cambridge
striker Claridge with his fingertips in the 42nd minute. Shane Tudor found
himself clean through at the other end moments later but dragged his shot wide.
Marshall then did well to block Steven Reid's wicked left-foot drive from 10
yards in the 45th minute.
Cambridge had a let-off in the 49th minute when Reid's cross evaded everyone
and rebounded off the far post.
And Millwall striker Braniff failed twice with only Marshall to beat after
being played in by Matt Lawrence. His first shot was straight at the goalkeeper
and his second cannoned off the post from 10 yards.
He was made to rue his miss when Wanless headed on a 57th minute free-kick for
Kitson. His first header struck the crossbar and with Warner still prone he
nodded the simplest of goals to send the travelling fans wild.
Millwall were level three minutes later, Claridge converting from the spot
after Stevland Angus had upended him in the penalty area.
But Youngs put Cambridge back in front in the 61st minute, taking Kitson's low
cross past Warner with his first touch before slotting home.
Their lead lasted nine minutes this time before Robinson headed home
substitute Peter Sweeney's 70th-minute corner.
And Ifill's 77th-minute header from a Sweeney free-kick completed a stunning
comeback which had Cambridge rocking.
There were chances at either end in the dying moments as the visitors showed
real character to fight back, but they could not quite force an equaliser.
Teams:
Millwall: Warner, Lawrence, Ward, Robinson, Ryan (Hearn 68),
Ifill, Livermore, Wise, Reid, Braniff (Sweeney 62), Claridge.
Subs Not Used: Gueret, Bull, Dunne.
Booked: Ryan, Reid.
Goals: Claridge 60 pen, Robinson 70, Ifill 77.
Cambridge Utd: Marshall, Duncan, Angus, Goodhind,
Tann (Chillingworth 82), Wanless, Tudor, Fleming,
Murray (Nacca 57), Youngs, Kitson (Riza 72).
Subs Not Used: Brennan, Bridges.
Booked: Angus, Tudor, Nacca, Wanless.
Goals: Kitson 58, Youngs 61.
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