Taty Castellanos has come under fire from West Ham United supporters after missing a huge late opportunity against Fulham.
The Hammers were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday after a 3-2 defeat at London Stadium, with Oscar Bobb scoring Fulham’s decisive third goal in the 78th minute.
West Ham still had an opportunity to force the tie beyond 90 minutes.
With the clock approaching the final minute, Taty Castellanos found himself free at the back post after Jarrod Bowendelivered a low ball across goal.
The Argentine failed to make the most of the opportunity, with his side-footed effort comfortably saved by Benjamin Lecomte.
It proved to be West Ham’s final major chance of the night.
West Ham fans react to Taty Castellanos miss
The miss quickly became a major talking point among supporters.
Football Insider highlighted the reaction from West Ham fans on social media, with several frustrated by the forward’s failure to convert.
One supporter wrote: “Taty should hang his head in shame after that miserable side footed miss.”
Another described the opportunity as “genuinely pathetic”, while others questioned how Castellanos had failed to find the net from such a promising position.
The reaction was particularly notable given the attacker’s productive start to West Ham’s Championship campaign.
Castellanos has already registered four goals and two assists across his opening six league appearances this season after scoring six Premier League goals following his January arrival.
That record makes the reaction to one miss worth keeping in perspective.
However, the opportunity against Fulham was undoubtedly significant.
Castellanos chance could have changed West Ham cup tie
Fulham had twice taken the lead during an entertaining first half.
Rodrigo Muniz opened the scoring before Morato equalised, while César Palacios restored Fulham’s advantage before Pablo Felipe scored his first West Ham goal shortly before half-time.
Bobb then struck after 78 minutes to make it 3-2.
West Ham continued pushing for an equaliser and Castellanos’ 89th-minute opportunity provided perhaps their clearest route back into the contest.
He could not take it.
The result ends West Ham’s Carabao Cup campaign and allows Nuno Espírito Santo to turn his attention completely towards Saturday’s Championship derby against Millwall.
The Hammers sit top of the division with 14 points from seven matches, although three other clubs currently share the same points total.
Nuno has already made it clear that there is little time to dwell on the cup defeat, with Read West Ham examining how his immediate Millwall focus underlines the importance of West Ham’s promotion challenge.
Castellanos will now hope the Fulham miss remains an isolated moment.
His Championship numbers suggest there is little reason for West Ham to panic, but the chance at London Stadium was one he will know he should have taken.
