Hammers supporters had shown a great piece of sportsmanship in spite of suffering an absolute heartbreak
Whenever there are talks about the Cup matches between Liverpool and West Ham, that famous match of 2006 comes to mind where the Hammers supporters had shown a great piece of sportsmanship in spite of suffering an absolute heartbreak.
It was the final in which the Reds were taking on West Ham and they were on the verge of loss with the score-sheet reading 2-3 against them, but, the luck turned around all of a sudden as the captain Steven Gerrard found the leveller.
The score remained the same in the extra time and then, Liverpool came out superior in the shootouts.
It’s not easy for the supporters to have control over their emotions when the team loses from such situations and that too in big matches, in finals, but, each and every West Ham supporter present in the stadium that day was up on his feet to clap for Liverpool players.
And, apart from the supporters, the West Ham players and support staff too, the way they conducted themselves, it was admirable stuff.
Gerrard, who was the hero in that game for the winners, has especially mentioned that match in the recent book that he has written on his career.
According to Gerrard, it was so unfortunate from West Ham’s point of view that they couldn’t win the match and it would surely have been hurting them badly, but, to see that sort of graciousness in their conduct despite what had just unfolded, it was something that’s hard to forget for him.
Gerrard has also suggested in the book that it’s because of those types of supporters that the game of soccer is so special.
Ten years since that loss, West Ham has the opportunity to have their revenge on Liverpool when they face them in the fourth round replay in the Cup on the coming Tuesday.