Goal of the day: Ricardo Vaz Tê (West Ham) vs Cheltenham
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An unstoppable 30-yard free-kick from Ricardo Vaz Tê inspired West Ham to a 2-1 win at home over Cheltenham Town in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.
West Ham were made to work for their win by the League Two side, who were looking to progress beyond Round Two for the first time in their history.
The Robins had performed admirably for the majority of the first half and they were shocked on 42 minutes when a brilliant free-kick from Vaz Tê punished them.
A foul by Russell Penn on Ravel Morrison handed the Hammers a dangerous free-kick in the central area.
Vaz Tê stepped up to take the free-kick and produced an outstanding effort from 30 yards that dipped over the wall and inside Scott Brown's right hand post.
Morrison increased the lead with a fine individual strike just 40 seconds into the second half and, although Cheltenham pulled one back through a Matt Richards penalty, the Premier League side made it safely through.
"I think Ricardo's goal settled us down," West Ham assistant manager Neil McDonald told West Ham TV.
"It was a fantastic free-kick into the top corner and I think we dominated after that up until half-time.
"With Vaz, it's good that people practise and he has been practising well on his free-kicks. The more you practise, the better you get."
Hammers skipper James Tomkins added: "I was having a think about taking the free-kick myself, so it was lucky I left it to Vaz as I don't think I would have done any better with it!"
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| West Ham player Ricardo Vaz Tê scores the opening goal against Cheltenham from a free-kick Photo: Getty Images |
West Ham were made to work for their win by the League Two side, who were looking to progress beyond Round Two for the first time in their history.
The Robins had performed admirably for the majority of the first half and they were shocked on 42 minutes when a brilliant free-kick from Vaz Tê punished them.
A foul by Russell Penn on Ravel Morrison handed the Hammers a dangerous free-kick in the central area.
Vaz Tê stepped up to take the free-kick and produced an outstanding effort from 30 yards that dipped over the wall and inside Scott Brown's right hand post.
Morrison increased the lead with a fine individual strike just 40 seconds into the second half and, although Cheltenham pulled one back through a Matt Richards penalty, the Premier League side made it safely through.
"I think Ricardo's goal settled us down," West Ham assistant manager Neil McDonald told West Ham TV.
"It was a fantastic free-kick into the top corner and I think we dominated after that up until half-time.
"With Vaz, it's good that people practise and he has been practising well on his free-kicks. The more you practise, the better you get."
Hammers skipper James Tomkins added: "I was having a think about taking the free-kick myself, so it was lucky I left it to Vaz as I don't think I would have done any better with it!"
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