'Disgraceful' scenes mar Millwall's cup heroics

LONDON - Synonymous for decades with having violent fans, Millwall has also gained a reputation as an FA Cup giant killer.

Both sides of the second-tier club were on show on Saturday.

On another day of surprises in the famous competition, Millwall scored an injury-time winner to eliminate Premier League Everton 3-2 at the fourth-round stage. The Lions have won five straight FA Cup home games against top-flight opponents dating to 2013 when they reached the semifinals.

The victory was marred, however, by violence off the field as rival fans clashed near Millwall's southeast London stadium, The Den, before the match.

Police said one man was slashed in the face and taken to hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening.

"The behavior of those involved in this incident is nothing short of disgraceful," said Detective Inspector Darren Young of the Metropolitan Police, adding that footage of the brawling which was circulating on social media has "quite rightly elicited shock and disgust".

Everton fans were held back inside The Den after the final whistle on safety grounds.

Millwall is renowned for its struggles with hooliganism, especially in the 1970s and 80s, and while the violence is much rarer nowadays, a trip to The Den continues to be an intimidating prospect for visiting supporters and teams.

By losing at Millwall, Everton became the sixth Premier League side to lose to lower-league opposition, after Fulham, Leicester, Cardiff, Huddersfield and Southampton.

Within hours, there was a seventh as West Ham was stunned 4-2 at AFC Wimbledon, a team languishing in last place in the third tier.

Toffees chewed up

Bucking a trend among Premier League managers, Everton boss Marco Silva treated the FA Cup with respect by fielding his strongest possible side against Millwall. Not that it did the Toffees any good.

In the last attack of the game, Murray Wallace converted from close range after a scramble inside the area as Everton became the latest topflight team to stumble at The Den.

As a third-tier side, Millwall beat three Premier League opponents - Bournemouth, Watford and Leicester - on its way to the quarterfinals in the 2016-17 season. In 2013, it beat top-flight (now second-tier) Aston Villa en route to the semifinals.

A controversial goal from Jake Cooper, who used his arm to bundle home, saw Millwall make it 2-2. Silva complained to the fourth official after seeing the incident on the big screen. At the same time, Millwall manager Neil Harris was shouting up to the stands, demanding the screen stop showing the goal.

Wimbledon wows

Across town in south-west London, Millwall's bitter rival West Ham was sent packing by League One Wimbledon.

Three goals down after 46 minutes thanks to a Kwesi Appiah opener and a Scott Wagstaff double, the Hammers scored twice in the space of 14 minutes - from Lucas Perez and Felipe Anderson - to make it 3-2 by the 71st. The Dons held firm, though, and sealed victory with a Toby Sibbick goal in the 88th.

Associated Press