Cup hero Sigurdsson does it again

Sportsdesk • Published 24 Feb 2010 23:00 0 Comments

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GYLFI Sigurdsson kept up his amazing goalscoring record in the FA Cup with a sensational extra-time winner at The Hawthorns.

The 20-year-old midfielder crashed home a sizzling 25-yarder in the 95th minute to seal a 3-2 comeback victory over Championship rivals West Brom in a pulsating fifth round replay.

The Icelandic youngster had already scored at Anfield to help knock out Liverpool in the third round and it was his solitary strike that saw off Burnley at the Madejski Stadium in the fourth.

Now he can add this Baggies-busting beauty to his ever-increasing collection of dazzling goals.

Brian McDermott's side fell behind twice but Jimmy Kebe made it 1-1 then Brian Howard netted a dramatic 93rd minute equaliser to set up extra time.

And Sigurdsson's stunner - his 10th goal of the season - fired Reading into the last eight for the first time in 83 years.

However, the night was marred when Jobi McAnuff was sent off during a melee involving stewards and players after the the final whistle, possibly bringing a two-match ban unless an appeal is successful.

McDermott will study a replay and preferred to focus on a historic night in the Midlands.

"It's a fantastic night for everybody, the players, staff and supporters who came," he beamed.

"That was a night to remember. The night at Anfield was fantastic but it topped that for me.

"We kept going and I always felt we would get something even when we had tired legs. And it did."

Royals boss also praise tribute the the unquestionable class of Sigurdsson.

"It was a fantastic finish" he said. " He's got so much talent and he scores goals that make a difference.

"He did it against Burnley, the penalty at Liverpool and then that goal tonight. I was right behind it and I thought it was going over so I was so pleased to see it go in.

"But I couldn't pick out anybody,. They showed so much spirit and I'm proud of every single one of them.

"It's a fantastic day of the club, we're in the last eight for the first time in 80-odd years.

"People talk about the FA Cup losing its appeal, but it certainly hasn't for us. It's put us back on the map and I like that."

McDermott claimed he did not have a clear view of McAnuff's controversial red card incident, apparently dished out by referee Lee Mason as the Reading team attempted to celebrated in front of their travelling fans.

Royals' boss suggested: "It was nonsense. Apparently Jobi McAnuff got sent off. There were some very vociferous stewards and one of them came towards us.

"When someone comes towards you what do you do? It's intimidation.

"I've had an apology from one of the stewards and the referee will put it in his report.

"But I don't want to talk about, I'd rather talk about the fact we've gone through."

But he stressed: "If I can appeal I will but I have no idea what happened, so much went on and most of it was unnecessary."

McDermott was forced into three changes to the side that started in the 2-0 league defeat at Blackpool at the weekend.

Two were in midfield due to injuries where Gylfi Sigurdsson came in for Brynjar Gunnarsson and Jay Tabb was handed a rare start in place of Jem Karacan.

In addition, there was a popular return for refreshed skipper Ivar Ingimarsson in central defence with Zurab Khizanishvili cup tied, while fit-again Marek Matejovsky and young winger James Henry were named among the subs.

Meanwhile, Baggies boss Roberto di Matteo started with Royals Academy graduate Simon Cox up front, despite reports suggesting he was injured.

In truth, West Brom were fortunate to escape with a 2-2 draw at Madejski Stadium in the original tie when Joe Mattock rescued a replay with a late equaliser.

Their intentions were clear this time with Roman Bednar and Luke Moore forming a threatening attack.

And they burst out of the blocks, pinning Royals back with early pressure that brought its rewards with a sixth minute opener.

Adam Federici did well to deny Bednar but when the Aussie stopper blocked Cox's rebound, Robert Koren was there to tap it in.

It was the worst possible start for McDermott's men, but within three minutes they were level to stun the Hawthorns crowd.

Jobi McAnuff's clever header sent Simon Church away. The Wales striker burst past a defender and squared to Sigurdsson whose shot was parried by Scott Carson into the path of Kebe.

The Malian winger tucked away the loose ball to continue his incredible cup story.

And it nearly got even getter for the visitors 11 minutes in but Matt Mills missed with a header from point-blank range from a corner.

Nevertheless, the sting had been taken out of the tie and Royals continued to look dangerous, with Carson saving from Sigurdsson and Tabb's penalty claims getting little joy out of Mason.

The elecrifying pace of the game could never continue and it soon became a battle.

But a 30-yard thunderbolt from Ingimarsson that whistled just wide nearly lit the touchpaper again.

It was still wide open, and the Baggies suffered a blow when Bednar limped off injured in the 38th minute to be replaced by Chris Wood.

They created one more chance before the break when Federici made simple save from a corner and, despite a nightmare start, Royals looked comfortable and up for the fight, and Federici was immaculate.

But disaster struck when they gifted West Brom a 2-1 lead through a Federici howler less than two minutes after the restart.

Koren's effort from the edge of the box went straight down the Aussie's throat.

But his body wasn't behind the ball and it somehow slipped through his arms and legs and squirmed over the line, handing Koren his second of the night.

The Royals keeper's impressive season has been blighted by the odd error, and this was undoubtedly the worst.

Yet there was no keeping McDermott's men down and Sigurdsson almost equalised within a couple of minutes with a 25-yard rocket that thudded against the bar, with McAnuff wasting the rebound.

It was all going wrong, Mason mistakenly booking Ingimarsson for a Howard foul as Royals appeared to loose their thread.

Then out of nowhere Carson came to West Brom's rescue with a crucial save from Sigurdsson who was odds-on to score following an error by Gabriel Tamas.

The dream was slipping away and there was another setback when Mills staggered off in the 72nd minute with suspected concussion.

And Cox wasted the chance to kill the tie when he fired wide from a great position.

All hope looked lost when McAnuff played in Kebe only for the winger's touch to let him down with only Carson to beat.

But there was one final twist to come three minutes into injury time when Howard made it 2-2 with a brilliant finish from Kebe's lay-off.

That made it 4-4 over 180 minutes and took it extra time, with the possibility of penalties looming.

And in shades of Anfield, it swung the momentum crucially back in Reading's favour.

Suddenly, the visitors had a sniff of victory - but it still took something special to put them in front 95 minutes in.

Ryan Bertrand and Church linked up well before Sigurdsson showed superb technique to curl a delicious shot into the top corner from 20-yards out, giving Carson no chance.

By then thousands of West Brom fans had already left with their side 2-1 up and seemingly in the quarters.

They were in for a major shock when they switched on their car radios.

Royals' hearts were in mouths when Cox tested Federici from miles out but this time the shot flew wide.

And McDermott's men never looked like letting the lead slip as they threw their bodies on the line with the clock ticking down.

In fact, Kebe should have made it 4-2 in the 119th minute but his finish was lazy with only Carson to beat.

Royals' reward is a quarter final replay against Aston Villa who knocked out Crystal Palace in a replay.

The tie will take place on Sunday, March 7 (1.45pm ko) and is live on ITV1.

West Brom (4-4-2): Carson © - Zuiverloon, Meite, Tamas, Mattock - Koren, Mulumbu, Dorrans (Morrison 69), Cox - Moore (Cech 78), Bednar (Wood 38). Subs not used: Kiely, Olsson, Slory, Brunt.

Reading (4-4-1-1): Federici - Griffin, Ingimarsson ©, Mills (Pearce 72), Bertrand - McAnuff, Sigurdsson, Tabb (Henry 119), Kebe - Howard - Church (Robson-Kanu 103). Subs not used: Hamer, Matejovsky, Rasiak, Thorvaldsson.

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Attendance: 13,985.

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