AFC Wimbledon send West Ham crashing out of the FA Cup in six goal thriller

Viva the Magic of the Cup

There was magic in the air this Saturday, as both Everton and West Ham crashed out of the FA Cup to opposition from down the leagues. In the late kick-off, League One side AFC Wimbledon welcomed West Ham United to a packed out, freezing cold Kingsmeadow, for what turned out to be one of the great cup upsets. The Wombles stuck four goals past the Hammers, with former Crystal Palace striker Kwesi Appiah opening the scoring after half an hour with the help of a deflection. https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1089257893499752448 Scott Wagstaff then bagged two more in quick succession before the break, giving the third tier side a three goal cushion with 45 minutes left to play. The scenes were particularly spectacular after the second goal, as the fans realised this was not a dream. https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1089260298727555075 The third, a delicate volley from Wagstaff, came on the stroke of half-time. https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1089266162335182849 Lucas Perez then got one back for the visitors, with a powerful, low shot into the bottom corner. https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1089268499367821312 The game was delicately poised, West Ham had a mountain to climb but they had a bit of momentum. Felipe Anderson scored West Ham's second with a stunning free kick from distance. Suddenly, doubt crept in. It felt inevitable that West Ham would equalise, if not go on to win. https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1089271928727179264 Alas, the cup is magical and strange things happen. The Hammers never found that third goal, but Wimbledon found a forth. As Lukas Fabianksi reminded us why people used to call him flappy hands-ski, Toby Sibbick arrived at the back post to nod in a cross, putting the final nail in West Ham's coffin. Chaos ensued. https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1089276056836734979 This will feel extra sweet for Wimbledon fans, after they lost 3-1 to West Ham at home back in August in the League Cup, despite taking the lead in the third minute.