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Yakubu's last-gasp winner puts Everton into Cup semi-final

A late strike by Aiyegbeni Yakubu handed Everton a 2-1 win at West Ham United on Wednesday, which handed the Merseysiders their first League Cup semi-final appearance in 20 years.

The quarter-final was heading for a 1-1 draw following first half goals from Carlton Cole and Leon Osman at Upton Park, but the Nigeria international striker pounced on a calamitous defensive blunder to hand David Moyes' side the victory.

Everton last appeared in the last four of the League Cup, where they lost 4-1 on aggregate to Arsenal, in the 1987-1988 season.

"The way we came back after they scored was terrific. The first half might have been as good as we have played in my time here," Moyes said. "It is an important result and we are delighted with it, but we have not won anything yet. We are going to really enjoy this result and the players and fans deserve it."

West Ham began in sprightly fashion and took a 12th minute lead through Cole, who slipped past the Everton defense just as an angled ball from deep from Lucas Neill sailed over.

Everton keeper Tim Howard came out to close down the angle but Cole took one touch before chipping the ball in for his fourth goal of the season.

That seemed to spurn Everton into action and it was after a period of sustained pressure that an unmarked Osman pulled one back for the Toffees after being picked out by Steven Pienaar.

It took until the latter stages of the second half for either team to threaten, but in the end West Ham gifted Everton the winner.

With just two minutes remaining Hammers' defender Danny Gabbidon got in a mix-up with keeper Robert Green, allowing Yakubu to poke home the winner.
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