Ilunga keeps Hammers happy

Herita Ilunga headed home with eight minutes remaining to earn West Ham a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough and keep the London club’s FA Cup run alive.

The Democratic Republic of Congo international stooped at the far post to send the fifth round tie to a replay.

The left-back, who is on a season-long loan deal from French side Toulouse, connected with Savio Nsereko?s free-kick to cancel out Stewart Downing’s first-half header for Boro.

The relegation-threatened visitors’ bright start belied their lowly league position and they might have gone ahead after only two minutes, when Adam Johnson dragged his shot wide after Matt Upson had only half-cleared Stewart Downing’s cross.

Downing then had a chance himself to break the deadlock on 11 minutes, but his shot from distance, which sent Robert Green sprawling, was also off target.

West Ham have been in excellent form of late and most notably, their striker Carlton Cole, who was called up to the England team for their 2-0 defeat in Spain this week.

Cole had the Hammers? first shot at goal in the 16th minute but saw his effort blocked by David Wheater.

Jack Collison then skipped past two Boro defenders before teeing up Mark Noble, but his blistering strike was parried by Australian goalkeeper, Brad Jones.

West Ham looked almost certain to open the scoring as a good ten minute spell of pressure drew more efforts from Cole and James Collins.

But it was Boro, goal-shy in their last three matches, who struck first-blood against the run of play in the 22nd minute.

Gary O?Neil whipped in a cross from the right wing which evaded Upson and Collins, allowing an unmarked Downing to head home at the far post.

West Ham should have been two down soon afterwards but Robert Huth?s header from 10 yards lacked the necessary power to beat Green.

And things took a further turn for the worst for the Londoners when they lost Cole to a suspected ankle injury after only 34 minutes.

Jones then pulled off a fine full-stretch save to thwart Noble while Collison blazed the follow-up high over the bar.

Substitute Diego Tristan then followed suit. He was fed by Italian David Di Michele only to lash over Jones’s bar.

Four minutes after the break, Gianfranco Zola was forced to make another change to his team. This time Portuguese winger Luis Boa Morte was substituted for Freddie Sears after receiving a knock.

Middlesbrough?s Brazilian striker Afonso Alves squandered three glorious chances to double Boro?s lead.

First, he burst through the West Ham defence before selfishly trying a shot at goal which ballooned over when Downing and O?Neil were better placed to shoot.

The club?s record signing from Dutch side Heerenveen then dragged another effort wide of the post from close range.

Finally, he mustered a third opportunity in a five-minute spell and this time managed to hit the target, forcing Green to save.

Boro almost instantly paid the price for their missed chances but Di Michele was equally wasteful and hung his head in shame after he missed from five yards.

The introduction of Savio took the West Ham striker count to four, but it was the unlikely figure of Ilunga who proved to be the Hammers’ saviour.

Savio’s dead-ball was not dealt with by Boro and Ilunga was on hand to head in his second goal for the club.