West Ham United secured a 3-1 victory over Portsmouth in the first round of the Carabao Cup at London Stadium on Tuesday, overcoming an early deficit to advance to the next stage of the competition. The match featured the largest-ever attendance for a Carabao Cup first-round fixture, with 53,369 fans present.
Portsmouth took the lead in the 33rd minute through Adrian Segecic, whose left-footed shot deflected off a West Ham defender and found the bottom corner. The visitors controlled much of the first half, enjoying greater possession and pressing the home side, with new signing Rocco Shein impressing in midfield. Shein also forced a save from West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen just before halftime.
West Ham responded just before the break, when Mohamadou Kante’s cross was converted by Taty Castellanos to level the score. Captain Jarrod Bowen then put the hosts ahead with a long-range effort that deflected off a Portsmouth defender, deceiving goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid. Early in the second half, Bowen provided a well-measured cross for Castellanos to head home and seal the win.
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo praised his players’ focus amid external distractions, including the presence of co-owner David Sullivan at the game. Sullivan attended despite advice from stadium operators to avoid the fixture due to ongoing allegations of sexual misconduct against him, which he denies. Nuno emphasized the team’s concentration on football matters, stating that external noise would not affect their performance.
Bowen described the victory as a positive start to the season, acknowledging initial sluggishness but highlighting the team’s resilience and determination to secure results consistently. He noted that setbacks were inevitable but stressed the importance of fighting to establish West Ham as a winning side.
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho expressed frustration at how the match unfolded after a strong opening display, lamenting a brief period of lapses that allowed West Ham to capitalize. He attributed the turnaround to West Ham’s quality across the pitch and the visitors’ failure to maintain their early momentum.
The game marked an important statement from West Ham’s attacking players, with both Bowen and Castellanos contributing decisively. Nuno Espirito Santo highlighted the commitment of his forwards and the squad’s readiness for a challenging campaign ahead, affirming his confidence in the team’s potential.
The victory ensures West Ham’s progression to the Carabao Cup second round, setting the stage for further competition as the club aims to build on a promising start to the season.