Boro win seven-goal Cup thriller
Viduka scored twice as Boro scraped home
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Tuesday, 16, Jan 2007 10:49
Middlesbrough were given an almighty scare as they beat Hull 4-3 in an entertaining FA Cup tie at the Riverside.
Although never behind, the home team were forced to cling on for victory as a battling Tigers side refused to accept defeat and proved the 1-1 draw from the first encounter was no fluke.
The game seemed to be heading for a predictable finish as Middlesbrough cruised into a 3-0 lead before the hour mark.
Seb Hines produced a telling finish just 32 minutes into his debut for the Teessiders after cutting in off the flank and four minutes into the second half Mark Viduka pounced on a rebound to double the advantage.
When another Yakubu shot smacked the woodwork and Stewart Downing was hauled down chasing up the loose ball, the Nigerian coolly accepted the chance to make it 3-0 from the spot and it seemed the contest was all over.
But an Andrew Dawson header and Jon Parkin penalty brought the visitors roaring back into the game with 27 minutes still to play.
Australian international Viduka briefly restored a two-goal cushion for his side with a precise finish into the far corner of Boaz Myhill's net, but a thunderous 30-yard free-kick from Dawson on 69 minutes must have set Gareth Southgate's nerves jangling once more.
Hull threw everything forward in search of an equaliser in the final 20 minutes and Mark Schwarzer had to be at his best to divert more efforts from goalscorers Parkin and Dawson as the Premiership team held out desperately for the final whistle.