Cricenceo Somerville scored his sixth goal in seven games, helping West Ham United to a 1-0 away win against Burton Albion and advance to the fifth round of the Emirates Cup. The 24-year-old was all smiles after the match. He was included in the substitute list for the away game against League One side Brønsley, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo making 10 changes to the starting lineup from the previous 1-1 draw at home against Manchester United in the Premier League.  

Neither side managed to score in the 90 minutes of regulation time. In the 83rd minute, substitute Crisencio Somerville broke the deadlock just five minutes into extra time. He cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful shot that deflected off a defender before sailing past goalkeeper Bradley Collins into the net.  

In the final moments, the home team applied relentless pressure, but West Ham United remained composed and successfully held on to their victory. This marks their first appearance in the round of 16 of the world's oldest cup competition since the 2022/23 season, and they continue their strong form, losing only one of their last seven matches across all competitions.  

Cristiano Somerville was named FA Cup Man of the Match after the game. He said: "We knew it was a tough game. The opponents put a lot of pressure on us, so we had to give it our all. For me, coming on was about doing my best to help the team. It's a great day, and I'm very happy."  

“The playing conditions were very tough, the pitch was not ideal, and the crowd was very supportive of our opponents. They did put pressure on us, but we fought back tenaciously, scored in extra time, and ultimately won the game. We knew there would be open spaces in the game, and I tried to cut inside to break through, which is my best approach.”  

With Jarrod Bowen, Matthäus Fernández, and Thomas Soucek not traveling with the team to the Pirelli Stadium, Criscio Somerville was pleased that he was able to step up, play a key role in the game, and boost team morale.  

West Ham United will determine their next opponent in the FA Cup draw on Monday night. Afterwards, the team will refocus on their Premier League relegation battle. Next Saturday, they will face Bournemouth at London Stadium.  

Criscio Somerville added: “Those who know me know that I can perform well when I’m in good form. I feel great right now and am happy to be back on the court after recovering from injury. I’m trying to maintain this level every week, and everything is moving in a positive direction. Every game is crucial for us, and today was a good day. We must continue this momentum and positive mindset to meet the challenges next week.”  

Image source: Internet/West Ham United official website