Martial earns replay for Man Utd in thrilling cup clash

Anthony Martial rescued Manchester United seven minutes from time with a crucial leveller to earn his side an Emirates FA Cup quarter final replay against West Ham.

Dimitri Payet had looked as though he would send West Ham into the last four of the competition after he scored a fabulous long range free-kick on 68 minutes but the hosts dug deep to stay in the competition.

West Ham started the quicker and enjoyed two early chances in the opening six minutes but first striker Andy Carroll fired over from an Aaron Cresswell pull back before Emmanuel Emenike dragged his shot wide after racing clear.

West Ham, who had won 10 of their last 15 games in all competitions prior to kick-off, nearly went ahead on 10 minutes; again Cresswell was the provider but Carroll was left frustrated as his header flew over.

Despite Manchester United pressing; it was West Ham creating the opportunities; next to go close was Emenike but he could only direct his header tamely at David De Gea.

On 20 minutes Ander Herrera was thwarted for Manchester United, but the midfielder saw his goalbound volley well blocked by West Ham.

The Hammers were winless in their last nine trips to Old Trafford in all competitions but the unwanted statistic did little to deter the visitors as they looked the more dangerous and likely to get on the scoresheet.

Marcus Rashford – restored into a central role after the midweek loss to Liverpool in Europe – saw his volley deflected over as United started to get a foothold in the game on the half-hour mark.

Manchester United were struggling to cope with West Ham’s aerial dominance and from a free-kick on 41 minutes the Hammers went close. Carroll won the initial ball into the box and Michail Antonio saw his effort blocked as a goalmouth scramble ensued.

West Ham started the quicker after the break and goalkeeper De Gea had to be alert to cut out a Hammers cross with Emenike lurking to apply the finish.

Manchester United appeals for a penalty on 55 minutes were turned down as Martial thought his header was blocked by a West Ham hand as the home side started to pile on the pressure.

And just minutes later United were screaming for another handball in the penalty area as Herrera’s powerfully struck effort was blocked at full stretch by a sliding Winston Reid.

Rashford was annoyed on 60 minutes as he danced his way into the West Ham penalty area but Darren Randolph came out quickly to block the striker’s effort.

It was West Ham’s turn next to feel aggrieved at the non-award of a penalty as Payet was caught in the penalty area on 65 minutes by the challenge of Marcos Rojo but referee Martin Atkinson waved away the appeals.

West Ham didn’t have to wait long to finally break the deadlock, though, and it was that man Payet again – smashing home an unstoppable free-kick that beat De Gea on 68 minutes and crept into the corner of the net.

Payet curled home a wonderful free-kick

And Payet could have scored his second on 78 minutes as he raced clear on the Manchester United goal but referee Atkinson called the play back for a foul in the build-up by the Frenchman.

With seven minutes left to play Manchester United forced home a leveller as Martial reacted quickest in the penalty area to force home a Herrera cross at the back post.

De Gea was called upon to make a fine save in stoppage time as Antonio saw his goalbound poke tipped around the post.

However, the momentum was with West Ham in the final few minutes as they poured forward in search of a winner but Manchester United stood firm to earn a deserved replay.

Manchester United (4-5-1): David De Gea, Guillermo Varela, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Jesse Lingard, Ander Herrera, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford.

Substitutes: Bastian Schweinsteiger for Fellaini on 75, Memphis Depay for Rashford on 75, Matteo Darmian for Rojo on 86.

Substitutes not used: Sergio Romero, RoShaun Williams, Morgan Schneiderlin, Adnan Januzaj.

Goals: Martial 83

West Ham United (4-5-1): Darren Randolph, Michail Antonio, Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell, Mark Noble, Cheikhou Kouyate, Manuel Lanzini, Emmanuel Emenike, Andy Carroll, Dimitri Payet.

Substitutes: Pedro Obiang for Reid on 61, Diafra Sakho for Emenike on 64, Enner Valencia for Carroll on 82.

Substitutes not used: Adrian, Joey O’Brien, Alex Song, Victor Moses.

Goals: Payet 68

Referee: Martin Atkinson