SOCCER

DANGO OUATTARA FLUFFS HIS LINES AS WEST HAM EDGE PAST BRENTFORD ON PENALTIES

Dango Ouattara fluffs his lines as West Ham edge past Brentford on penalties

Brentford forward Dango Ouattara fluffed a Panenka-style penalty as West Ham reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in a decade with a 5-3 shoot-out win.

The Burkina Faso international’s outlandish attempt was easily caught by Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola before Konstantinos Mavropanos converted the decisive spot-kick.

Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen and Brentford top scorer Igor Thiago each scored twice during normal time as an entertaining fifth-round tie ended in a 2-2 draw.

Three-time FA Cup winners West Ham will host Leeds in the last eight, having last progressed to that stage of the competition during the 2015-16 season – their final one at Upton Park.

England forward Bowen poked the hosts into a 19th-minute lead in an action-packed first half before Thiago levelled for the Bees with his 20th goal of the season.

Bowen doubled his tally with a 34th-minute penalty, only for Thiago to force extra-time by converting from the spot in the 81st minute.

Ouattara was the only player to fail in the shoot-out as Brentford’s wait for a first quarter-final since 1989 was extended in agonising fashion.

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