Cardiff 2-3 West Ham

Carling Cup photos

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West Ham striker Jermain Defoe scored a stunning hat-trick as he brought his side back from two goals down to win at Cardiff in the Carling Cup.

Defoe struck the winner in the 88th minute to stun the home fans who had seen their side go into an early two-goal lead.

Robert Earnshaw had struck twice in the first half; his second a sensational strike past England goalkeeper David James.

But Defoe hauled his side back into with a first half penalty and a deflected second before winning it with a well-struck 20-yard drive.

The attacking teams both managers had sent out gave an indication of the nature of the contest, and it did not disappoint from the outset.

Cardiff made the most of the early running and they cashed in when Jason Bowen skipped past Wayne Quinn and crossed for Earnshaw to open the scoring from close-range after just 11 minutes.

The Bluebirds doubled their advantage in stunning fashion when Earnshaw picked the ball up with his back to goal, turned Ian Pearce and lashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner of James' net from 25 yards.

KEY MOMENTS 12 mins: Earnshaw sweeps home Bowen's right-wing cross 25 mins: Earnshaw scores a sensational second 45 mins: Connolly is fouled in the box and Defoe nets 64 mins: Defoe's shot goes in off Gabbidon 88 mins: Defoe completes his hat-trick by hitting the winner

It was a goal that would have graced any occasion, and the Zambian-born striker looked like he could run riot as he cast a spell over Pearce and Christian Dailly time after time.

But gradually the Hammers forced their way back into the game, with Connolly and Defoe both testing Martyn Margetson with long-range efforts.

And they equalised on the stroke of half-time when Defoe blasted home from the spot after Vidmar's challenge had brought Connolly crashing to the turf.

After a quiet start to the second half Defoe brought West Ham level when he shrugged off Willie Boland and hit a right-foot shot that deflected off Danny Gabbidon into the net.

Cardiff nearly restored their lead just a minute later but Mark Bonner's sweetly-struck drive flew just wide.

Absolutely fantastic, we started off really slow but what a wonderful finish. Well done to West Ham. From Jackie L Have your say on 606

West Ham sent on Richard Garcia for the disappointing Neil Mellor, and with six minutes left the substitute forced a brilliant reaction save from Margtetson.

But the visitors were not to be denied and Defoe hit Cardiff with a hammer blow when his long-range effort crept in with just two minutes left on the clock.

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Cardiff: Margetson, Weston, Gabbidon, Vidmar, Barker, Boland, Kavanagh, Bowen, Bonner, Thorne, Earnshaw. Subs: Alexander, Prior, Campbell, Croft, Gordon.

West Ham: James, Repka, Dailly, Pearce, Ferdinand, Quinn, Etherington, Horlock, Connolly, Defoe, Mellor. Subs: Sofiane, Garcia, Kilgallon, Noble, Bywater.

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).