27 years ago a Frank Lampard winner was enough to send John Lyall's
West Ham through to the FA Cup Final at the expense of
Everton in a semi-final replay thriller.
But the Blues finally got their revenge tonight when a Yakubu strike - similarly right at the death - was enough to send Alan Curbishley's side tumbling out of the Carling Cup.
Although the Hammers had hardly impressed on the night, it was a cruel way to go out of the competition - especially as Yakubu's goal was
Everton's first effort on goal since Leon Osman had cancelled out Carlton Cole's 12th minute opener some 50 minutes earlier.
In truth, the Hammers struggled throughout to impress themselves on
Everton's five-man midfield, which harried and troubled the home side whenever in possession.
David Moyes had clearly done his homework, and bar Cole's goal - a superbly taken effort, with the striker rounding keeper Tim Howard after a pinpoint delivery from Lucas Neill - the Irons rarely threatened to repeat that early success.
Everton had controlled much of the first half - which ended with Leon Osman grabbing a deserved equaliser five minutes ahead of the break with a precision strike from 12 yards - yet were happy to sit back and soak up whatever the Hammers threw at them after the break.
Whilst the Hammers struggled to make inroads on
Everton's goal - a Carlton Cole header and a wild shot from Dean Ashton being the only notable second-half efforts - they always looked the most likely to go on and score the deciding goal if for no other reason than that they maintained greater territorial advantage.
So it was a surprise - although perhaps, given
West Ham's Cup (mis)fortunes over the years, not unexpected - when Yakubu took advantage of an horrendous mix-up between Danny Gabbidon and Rob Green to steal the winner two minutes from time.
A hopeful punt from the back was probably more a desperate attempt to bring extra-time closer rather than a defence-splitting effort - which is how it transpired - yet somehow Yakubu stole inbetween the hapless Hammers pair to tap home into an empty net.
Gabbidon was perhaps at fault for trying to head the ball back to Green - although the England hopeful hardly covered himself in glory by flapping at thin air trying to rectify the situation.
Yakubu meanwhile waited patiently before finding the ball at his feet; there will be no greater gifts in his entire career.
So yet again another Wembley dream disappears; some small consolation, perhaps, that the Hammers only have to wait three days before having the opportunity to redress the balance when the two sides meet at the Boleyn Ground again - this time in the Premier League.
