West Ham survived a wonderful performance from Georgi Kinkladze to scramble
their way into the last 16 of the FA Cup.
Kinkladze conjured up a magical 59th-minute equaliser after Eyal Berkovic had
given the Hammers a first-half lead.
And Uwe Rosler had a chance to fire City ahead from the penalty spot when
Steve Potts brought down Paul Dickov 18 minutes from time.
But Rosler blasted his spotkick over the bar and four minutes later Steve
Lomas made his former club pay by blasting home from the edge of the box.
Kinkladze, with a big stage and a massive TV audience to perform to, was
inspired.
He threw four outrageous dummies to totally confuse Frank Lampard in
theopening minute and the Georgian just got better and better.
He put Richard Edghill through for a shot that was blocked and then smashed a
stunning 25 yarder against the angle of post and bar after 12 minutes with Craig
Russell's shot from the rebound blocked by David Unsworth.
John Hartson had a goal rightly disallowed for offside after a great break
from Samassi Abou and Berkovic and Hartson might have done better with a
far-post header from Tim Breacker's cross.
West Ham, with only two away wins all season, looked tentative and City looked
to take advantage.
Craig Forrest saved bravely Edghill's feet after Whitley put him in on the
right side of the box and then produced a fine one handed save from Paul
Dickov.
But Berkovic fired the Hammers ahead on 28 minutes. Steve Potts' freekick
found Hartson and he slipped the ball into Berkovic's path for the midfielder to
stride on a drill past Wright.
City still kept coming forward and Whitley cracked a 20-yarder just wide of
the upright while Uwe Rosler chipped over the onrushing Forrest and the bar.
West Ham were fortunate not to concede a penalty after 51 minutes when Ian
Pearce looked to push Rosler in the back as they went for a centre.
But the goal City's effort deserved arrived after 59 minutes, a masterful
effort from Kinkladze.
Whitley found him out on the left hand touchline with a fine pass from inside
his own half.
Kinkladze then set off on a jinking run past Stan Lazaridis and Potts before
cutting into the box, deceiving Rio Ferdinand, and blasting the equaliser in off
the far post.
Abou should have restored the lead three minutes later when he was free in the
box 10 yards out, but watched in disbelief as Wright touched the shot away.
Kinkladze almost made it 2-1 with another stunning effort from the edge of the
box after 64 minutes, producing a shot with the minimum of backlift that slid
past the post.
City were then presented with a chance to forge ahead when Dickov fouled Potts
but Rosler went for power from the spot and cleared the bar.
West Ham quickly cashed in on that escape, Lomas driving a low shot from the
edge of the box past Tommy Wright after City had failed to clear Berkovic's
corner.
Whitley had a drive blocked and Shelia sent a header inches wide as City
fought gallantly for the equaliser but the Hammers held firm.
Man City: Wright, Brightwell, Shelia, Brown, Symons, Edghill,
Whitley, Russell, Dickov, Kinkladze, Rosler.
Subs Not Used: Bradbury, Margetson, Brannan, Van Blerk, Crooks.
Booked: Dickov, Brown, Shelia.
Goals: Kinkladze 59.
West Ham: Forrest, Potts, Ferdinand, Pearce,
Unsworth (Breacker 19), Lomas, Lampard, Berkovic, Lazaridis,
Abou (Dowie 87), Hartson.
Subs Not Used: Lama, Rowland, Bishop.
Booked: Berkovic.
Goals: Berkovic 28, Lomas 76.
Att: 26,495
Ref: D J Gallagher (Banbury).
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