Cole fires Hammers into Cup last 8
Source: Agencies |
February 23, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ENGLAND striker Carlton Cole struck twice as English Premier League struggler West Ham United crushed Burnley 5-1 at Upton Park on Monday to reach the FA Cup quarterfinals.
German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, playing his first game since joining from Lazio in June, gave the hosts an early lead and two neat finishes by Cole, a header from Winston Reid and a late strike from Freddie Sears sent the Hammers through to a last-eight clash at Stoke City.
West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green pulled off early saves from Burnley's Chris Eagles and Jay Rodriguez as the visitors started well but Hitzlsperger's fierce long-range strike in the 23rd minute settled the home side down.
Cole beat the offside trap twice in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring first with a left-foot poke after a poor touch and then with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
New Zealand defender Reid headed home Hitzlsperger's corner in the 59th before Rodriguez claimed a consolation for the Championship (second division) side.
Striker Sears smashed home a last-minute effort to complete a satisfying evening for the Upton Park faithful.
West Ham languishes 19th in the Premier League standings but has enjoyed success in cup competitions this season with manager Avram Grant also leading it to the League Cup semifinals.
"Our target and first priority is the league, but it's always good to come into the quarterfinals of the Cup," said Grant. "We want to win every game. We know in the Cup you lose one game and you're out, but in the league there is always the next game to make things better."
In San Sebastian, Spain, Raul Tamudo's second-half goal lifted Real Sociedad to a 1-0 win over Mallorca on Monday in La Liga.
Under gusting winds and rain, both teams had difficulties creating clear-cut scoring chances in the first half at Anoeta Stadium.
Sociedad was the better team after the restart, and Tamudo rose up to head home Daniel Estrada's cross in the 55th for his third goal in four games.
Xabi Prieto came close to doubling the Basque club's lead in the 70th when his lob hit the crossbar.
It was Sociedad's third straight home win and pushed the club to within three points of the Europa League positions.
The Basque club has 34 points from 24 matches, level with seventh-placed Sevilla, and three short of sixth-placed Espanyol.
Leader Barcelona and second-placed Real Madrid have 65 and 60 points, respectively, after both won at the weekend.
Lionel Messi earned Barca a battling 2-1 home win over Athletic Bilbao while Real eased past Levante 2-0 at the Bernabeu.
German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, playing his first game since joining from Lazio in June, gave the hosts an early lead and two neat finishes by Cole, a header from Winston Reid and a late strike from Freddie Sears sent the Hammers through to a last-eight clash at Stoke City.
West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green pulled off early saves from Burnley's Chris Eagles and Jay Rodriguez as the visitors started well but Hitzlsperger's fierce long-range strike in the 23rd minute settled the home side down.
Cole beat the offside trap twice in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring first with a left-foot poke after a poor touch and then with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
New Zealand defender Reid headed home Hitzlsperger's corner in the 59th before Rodriguez claimed a consolation for the Championship (second division) side.
Striker Sears smashed home a last-minute effort to complete a satisfying evening for the Upton Park faithful.
West Ham languishes 19th in the Premier League standings but has enjoyed success in cup competitions this season with manager Avram Grant also leading it to the League Cup semifinals.
"Our target and first priority is the league, but it's always good to come into the quarterfinals of the Cup," said Grant. "We want to win every game. We know in the Cup you lose one game and you're out, but in the league there is always the next game to make things better."
In San Sebastian, Spain, Raul Tamudo's second-half goal lifted Real Sociedad to a 1-0 win over Mallorca on Monday in La Liga.
Under gusting winds and rain, both teams had difficulties creating clear-cut scoring chances in the first half at Anoeta Stadium.
Sociedad was the better team after the restart, and Tamudo rose up to head home Daniel Estrada's cross in the 55th for his third goal in four games.
Xabi Prieto came close to doubling the Basque club's lead in the 70th when his lob hit the crossbar.
It was Sociedad's third straight home win and pushed the club to within three points of the Europa League positions.
The Basque club has 34 points from 24 matches, level with seventh-placed Sevilla, and three short of sixth-placed Espanyol.
Leader Barcelona and second-placed Real Madrid have 65 and 60 points, respectively, after both won at the weekend.
Lionel Messi earned Barca a battling 2-1 home win over Athletic Bilbao while Real eased past Levante 2-0 at the Bernabeu.
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