Terrific Posh Suffer Penalty Heartache
There were over 10,000 supporters inside the stadium and millions watching around the world and there is no doubt that the Peterborough United players will receive hearty praise for their performance over the 120 minutes at a packed ABAX.And they certainly deserve it. Graham Westley's men were tremendous from start to finish and in truth deserved to beat Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.
Darren Fletcher had cancelled out Jon Taylor's opener, but despite carving out chances, Posh couldn't force a winner in extra time and suffered heartbreak in the shoot out as Lee Angol and Martin Samuelsen both saw their spot-kicks saved.
Graham Westley's men made a lively start with Martin Samuelsen showing some dazzling footwork to burst into the box, he then picked out Beautyman at the back post, but his side-foot finish was blocked.
Jon Taylor tested goalkeeper Foster from distance and then on 10 minutes fired just past the post after intercepting a Baggies clearance.
Chris Forrester saw a 30-yard effort shovelled behind for a corner kick by Foster, who was definitely the busier in the early exchanges.
Andrew Fox tested Foster with a right-footed curler on the quarter hour mark as Gareth McAuley was forced out of the game with a muscle injury.
Foster was called upon again on 20 minutes to beat away a volley from Beautyman after a lovely clip around the corner from Angol.
Berahino flashes a shot inches past the post after a neat lay-off from Rondon on 35 minutes as the Baggies finally came close.
Baldwin produced a fine block to deny McClean at the back post and then Chester somehow missed with a side-foot at the back post, Rondon in the end getting in the way of the effort.
Yacob finally went into the book for a foul on Coulthirst moments after the restart as Posh tried to find the breakthrough. Taylor's free-kick was routine for Foster though.
Coulthirst was a whisker away from giving Posh the lead on 51 minutes, but his curler whistled just past the post after good approach play from Taylor, Fox and Samuelsen.
On 54 minutes, Posh got the breakthrough their play deserved as Angol picked out TAYLOR, who took a touch and fired low across goalkeeper Foster with his left-foot and into the back of the net.
Angol fired straight at Foster with other players better positioned either side of him on 57 minutes as the home crowd encouraged their men forward.
On 71 minutes, the visitors drew themselves level and it was a superb strike from the skipper Darren FLETCHER, lashing the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Foster did well to smother a fierce Coulthirst effort from just inside the box as Posh failed to let their heads drop after conceding an undeserved equaliser.
Coulthirst fired wide of the near post after a good one two with Samuelsen on 83 minutes. Bostwick produced a fine last ditch clearance to deny Berahino as Alnwick punch falls kindly in his path on the edge of the box.
Coulthirst was replaced to a standing ovation on 88 minutes with Souleymane Coulibaly his replacement. Alnwick produced a fine save with his legs to deny Rondon as the game moved towards stoppage time.
After three minutes of added time, the referee brought an end to proceedings and extra time was required.
Samuelsen produced some unbelievable skills on the ball to burst into the box on 98 minutes, but he blazed over with his left-foot. Marcus Maddison then replaced Beautyman as Westley made a substitution.
Rondon was inches away from putting the visitors in front with a drilled effort from 30-yards, but thankfully for Posh it whistled just past the post.
Half-time in extra time was reached with the scores still level, the fans really playing their part in a wonderful cup-tie.
Erhun Oztumer replaced Taylor, who was magnificent from start to finish, but literally couldn't go on any longer with cramp.
Forrester was booked for a crunching tackle as Berahino fired wide from distance. Maddison was close to getting Posh in front on 122 minutes, his effort was audacious but cleared the crossbar.
Zakuani produced a stunning block with his head on the goalline to deny Gardner as the Baggies came desperately close to scoring. Pocognoli headed over from a free-kick as the tie moved into the final few minutes.
In the final minute, Sessegnon somehow planted a header wide of the target after a deep free-kick to the back post. And on we went to penalties....
Pocognoli penalty scored
Bostwick scored
Berahino scored
Maddison scored
Gardner scored
Samuelsen penalty saved
Fletcher penalty goes wide
Fox scored
Chester scored
Angol penalty saved
Posh: Alnwick, Baldwin, Bostwick, Zakuani, Fox, Beautyman (sub Maddison 98min), Taylor (sub Oztumer 105min), Forrester, Samuelsen, Coulthirst (sub Coulibaly 88min), Angol. Unused subs: Henry, Ntlhe, Da Silva Lopes, Toffolo.
West Brom: Foster, Olsson, Chester, Yacob (sub Sessegnon 61min), Garner, McClean, Gamboa, Berahino, McAuley (sub Pocognoli 18min), Fletcher, Rondon. Unused subs: Myhill, Anichebe, Ward, Roberts, Leko.
Half-time: Peterborough United 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
Full-time: Peterborough United 1-1 West Bromwich Albion (AET)
West Bromwich Albion win 4-3 on penalties.
Attendance: 10,632 (776 West Brom fans)