West Ham finally get better of bogey side Brentford after penalty shoot out
- By Yann Tear at the London Stadium
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
FA Cup 5th Round
West Ham United (2) 2 Bowen 19, 34 pen
Brentford (1) 2 Thiago 28, Thiago pen 82
After Extra Time : West Ham won 5-3 on pens
They hate playing them but for once got the better of their troublesome west London foes.
The Hammers are through to a home quarter-final against Leeds United - what an occasion that should be - after holding their nerve in the shoot-out that followed a 120-minute stalemate.
They hit five perfect penalties - that boss Nuno Espirito could not bear to watch - and won the day after Dango Ouatarra, who had had a bad game, hit a dreadful Paneka that was so weak, keeper Alphone Areola had all the time in the world to wait to take a simple catch.
It was on a par with the worst pen seen at the London Stadium when Ademola Lookman once hit a horror 12-yarder for Fulham.
It was left to Konstantinos Mavropanos of all people, to apply the coup de grace - while Jarrod Bowen, Tayy Castellanos, Callum Wilson and Tomas Soucek had all struck perfect shots beyond Caoimhin Kelleher.
This is a fixture Hammers fans have not looked forward to in recent times. In nine league clashes so far in the five seasons the Bees have been in the Premier League, they have lost seven to their cross-town opponents, winning only once. The Bees won 2-0 at the London Stadium earlier this season.
West Ham did win the last FA Cup tie between the teams, at least, when Said Benrahma got the winner at the Gtech in a third round meeting three years ago.
The Irons led twice with a Bowen double but were pegged back each time and it became an even contest with little to separate the sides.
The Bees looked like the more likely candidates in the early stages against a Hammers side showing seven changes from the last match at Fulham.
Jordan Henderson side-footed just over from a Mikkel Damsgaard and Michael Kayode forced Alphonse Areola into a smothering save.
But there was a good response from the Irons. Adama Traore put that fearsome frame to good use by bursting from half way before sliding a low shot just past a post.
Then came the opener - Bowen poking home from close range after an aerial ball bounced off a tussling Soucek and Kristoffer Ajer following a cross from the right by Matheus Fernandes.
The Bees were soon level when Nathan Collins' header crept past Areola after brushing off Igor Thiago - a VAR check deciding his touch was off the chest not a hand, but Bowen restored the lead with a coolly taken penalty that was awarded after Kayode had tripped Traore with a clumsy challenge.
Brentford were outraged when they were not awarded a spot kick of their own when Kevin Schade appeared to be clipped by Fernandes.
There was a crucial save from Kellher before the break to deny Soucek - the downward header looking destined for the net until the former Liverpool stopper sprang down to his left.
The Irons went for the kill after the break, with Crysencio Summerville joining the action and soon hitting a deflected shot onto the roof of the net. There was also a dash down the right from Bowen which brought out another save from the Bees keeper at the end of it.
But in a game full of incident, the Bees found a way back 10 minutes from time, just as it began to look as if they were running out of ideas. Igor Thiago thumped home emphatically from the spot after Summerville had nudged Michael Kayode as the Bees defender rose up to reach a cross.
Suddenly the visitors looked interested again and Keane Lewis-Potter was not far away with a shot across the face of goal after bearing in from the left of the area.
Who could grab the glory in extra-time? Teenager Romelle Donovan almost claimed that prize with a shot on the turn that was just a bit too high. Keith Andrews was convinced it was about to go in - the Bees boss dropping down on his haunches in disbelief. A 30-yarder from Axel Disasi also came close to being the spectacular denouement.
Instead, it was penalties. As it often is after extra time. But it turned out just fine for the hosts.
Worryingly for Nuno, Summerville picked up a muscle injury in the second half of extra time and stayed on despite being in obvious discomfort as all the subs had been used. The last thing he needs is for his star player to miss vital league matches as a result of tonight's exertions.
Hammers: (4-2-3-1) Areola - Walker-Peters (Wan-Bissaka 91), Mavropanos, Disasi, Scarles (Mayers h/t) - Souckek, Kante (Magassa 76) - Bowen, Mateus Fernandes (Wilson 106), Traore (Summerville h/t) - Pablo (Castellanos 60)
Bees: (4-2-3-1) Kelleher - Kayode, Ajer (van den Berg 97), Collins, Lewis-Potter - Henderson, Yarmoliuk (Jensen 63) - Ouattara, Damsgaard (Donovan 87), Schade (Furo 106) - Thiago
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