London: Jonathan Spector scored his first two goals in English soccer in his first appearance for the West Ham in three months, a 4-0 rout of two-time defending champion Manchester United on Tuesday night that advanced the Hammers to the League Cup semifinals.
Spector, a defender from Arlington Heights, Ill., scored in the 22nd and 37th minutes. He began his career in English soccer with United in 2004-05.
This was only Spector's third appearance of the season, following starts against Oxford in the League Cup on August 24 and at Manchester United in the Premier League four days later.
"It's been disappointing and frustrating, but I've just been working hard and hope for the best," said Spector said, a member of this year's U.S. World Cup team.
Usually a right or left back, Spector played in a central midfield role.
"I'm not really sure," he said when asked how he scored twice. "Playing in a different position kind of helped, I was able to get forward a bit more."
Carlton Cole also scored twice against a United team of mostly reserves on a bitter cold night at Upton Park.
West Ham could have gone ahead in the 16th minute on Victor Obinna's shot, which deflected in off Spector, but the American was called for offsides. Spector then scored in his first goal in six years of English soccer when he got in front of Darren Fletcher to head in Obinna's cross.
Spector had scored for West Ham in a league match at Derby on Nov. 10, 2007, but it was changed to an own goal for Eddie Lewis, a teammate on the U.S. national team.
On the second goal, Spector went on a surging run and his pass into the penalty area was blocked. Spector pounced on the loose ball and scored.
In another quarterfinal, Arsenal beat Wigan 2-0 on Antolin Alcaraz own goal and Nicklas Bendtner's close-range finish. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who in the past used youngsters in the League Cup, mixed in veterans.
"We did the job on a cold night and we're in the semifinals," he said. "We want to win trophies and be at the top of the table. We are always at the top of the table, but to win trophies would be better. But there's no guarantee we'll win this trophy. It's home and away now, and it will be tough."
Wigan forward Victor Moses was carried off on a stretcher in the 35th after falling on his left shoulder.
On Wednesday, Birmingham hosts local rival Aston Villa and Ipswich — the only non-Premier League team left in the competition — is home against West Bromwich Albion.
Comments
0 comment