Late Romelu Lukaku leveller keeps Everton Cup dream alive

Romelu Lukaku scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser to help Everton secure a replay against West Ham and keep their name in the hat for the FA Cup Fourth Round.

The Merseyside club looked to be heading for a fifth straight defeat after James Collins had put West Ham into the lead with a powerful header ten minutes into the second half.

But despite their poor run of form, Everton showed all their fighting qualities to take something from the game as Bryan Oviedo's cross fell to Lukaku and he made no mistake firing the ball into the corner of the net.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will be unhappy that his side failed to see out the game, but will take a number of positives from the performance.

The Hammers dominated the opening exchanges, but failed to make it count and it was the home side who had the first chance to open the scoring. 

With 24 minutes played Lukaku burst clear of the West Ham defence, but fired the ball just past the post.

Two minutes later Steven Naismith also had a golden chance to open the scoring but was unable to find the target.

James Collins heads West Ham ahead

West Ham came close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when Aaron Cresswell's cross fell to Morgan Amalfitano, who made space for himself inside the box, but dragged his close-range shot over the bar.

The goal did eventually come, on 56 minutes, when Collins put West Ham into the lead.

Amalfitano's corner fell perfectly to the Wales international. 

He ran across goal and made no mistake directing a powerful header past Joel Robles into the back of the net.

James Collins celebrates after scoring the opening goal

Enner Valencia should have doubled West Ham's lead just two minutes later after Mark Noble's corner picked out the Ecuador international, but with the goal at his mercy he saw his header superbly tipped over the bar by Robles.

Lukaku thought he had put Everton back on level terms on the hour mark when he headed the ball past Adrian but his effort was ruled out for a push on Aaron Cresswell.

But the Belgian striker was not to be denied and he ensured the tie went to a replay at Upton Park in the final minutes as he struck home from close-range.