It seems so long ago, after Frederic Piquionne's controversial equalizer, but here's video of the opening goal of today's FA Cup quarterfinal between Stoke City and West Ham United. It's grainy but works to see the vitals, mostly Robert Huth getting an unmolested run onto a perfect Rory Delap throw, with defending so poor as to be conspiratorial. Nobody is within two meters of Huth, and that player has his back to the defender.
Stoke City Vs. West Ham United, FA Cup Video: Robert Huth’s Opening Goal, Courtesy Rory Delap Throw
It’s truly an inexcusable goal, considering Huth is the primary target on any Potters’ set-piece. That West Ham showed more disorganization than inability is an indictment on their coaches, a particularly stinging accusation considered West Ham played Stoke in league last weekend. West Ham won that match 3-0. So what happened between then and now to make the Hammer’s incapable of marking Robert Huth?
Via a gift, West Ham was able to equalize later in the half, but this play was more akin to how the first half went. Stoke was the better side, but they still went to half tied 1-1.
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