It was penalties galore as West Ham United were made to work for their progression in the FA Cup. The Hammers led twice in an end-to-end match but each time Brentford pegged them back, making the Irons go the distance where Nuno Espirito Santo’s team dispatched five perfect penalties.
Jarrod Bowen netted twice for the hosts, with Igor Thiago scoring both for the visitors as the thriller ebbed and flowed until the last minute. Bowen, Valentin Castellanos, Callum Wilson, Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos all scored their spot kicks, sending West Ham into the quarter finals.
Nuno made seven changes heading into this game, dropping the likes of Castellanos and Crysencio Summerville to the bench. Alphonse Areola returned in-between the sticks and there was a welcome return for Pablo Felipe, who has missed the last month through injury.
First-half
The tone was set early on, Kevin Schade and Ollie Scarles exchanging shots at both ends.
Brentford took the initiative early on. Jordan Henderson and Michael Kayode both testing Areola in the opening moments.
West Ham would fire back, Adama Traore going on a mazy run before seeing his shot wide of the post. Pablo would also try his luck, having his shot deflected.
The resulting corner, resulted in the opener. Mateus Fernandes collected the corner, Soucek headed it down and Bowen did the rest from six-yards-out.
Brentford wouldn’t waste time hitting back. Dango Outtara saw his cross headed goal bound by Nathan Collins before Thiago got the slightest of touches to see it in the back of the net. VAR checked for a possible handball but there was nothing in it.
The Bees would find themselves behind moments later. Kayode was adjudged to have taken down Traore after an on-field VAR check, the penalty was given. Bowen stepped up and did the rest, the Hammers had the lead again.
As expected, the Bees pushed back, Scarles heading Collins effort off the line before Axel Disasi missing a sitter at the other end.
Second-half
Nuno made a surprising call at the break as he brought on Ezra Mayers and Crysencio Summerville, a player who West Ham can ill-afford to lose.
Summerville would test the Brentford goal almost immediately, Kayode blocking the shot and sending it over the bar.
The Hammers should have had a third as Soucek met Summerville’s cutback but couldn’t guide his effort around the blocking Collins.
Brentford threw men forward and gaps began to show, with Bowen being through on goal only to be denied by Caoimhin Kelleher.
With 11 minutes to go disaster struck as Brentford were awarded a penalty. Summerville deemed to have pushed Kayode. Thiago stepped up and slammed it past Areola. Onto extra-time.
Exra-time and penalties
For the first 15, the two teams played out a nervy period. The quietist spell the game had had since the first whistle blew.
Callum Wilson came off the bench to force Kelleher into a one-handed save before the referee denied West Ham a penalty from what they believed was a handball.
Castellanos and Disasi both tried their luck but there was no finding the winning goal and onto penalties it was.
Bowen, Castellanos scored, Thiago did for Brentford but Ouattara’s failed chip left the door open for West Ham.
Wilson obliged, Keane Lewis-Potter and Matthias Jensen did their jobs but Soucek and Mavropanos were never missing.
The Hammers keep the momentum going but they made it harder than it needed to be. Summerville, West Ham’s key attacker, also picked up a knock in the process, with the club hoping he will be okay.
The Irons will now play Leeds United in the FA Cup quarter finals.
Teams
West Ham United: Areola, Walker-Peters (Wan-Bissaka 91), Mavropanos, Disasi, Scarles (Mayers HT), Kanté (Magassa 76), Fernandes (Wilson 106), Souček, Adama (SummervilleHT), Bowen, Pablo (Taty 59)
Subs not used: Herrick (GK), Kilman, Potts
Goals: Bowen 19, 34 (pen)
Booked: Summerville, Souček
Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, Collins, Ajer (van den Berg 97), Lewis-Potter, Henderson, Damsgaard (Donovan 87), Yarmolyuk (Jensen 63), Schade (Furo 106), Ouattara, Thiago
Subs not used: Valdimarsson (GK), Stephenson, Pinnock, Bentt, Shield
Goals: Igor Thiago 28, 81 (pen)
Referee: Andy Madley
Attendance: 48,570
