West Ham secured a 3-1 comeback victory over Portsmouth at London Stadium on Saturday, advancing to the second round of the Carabao Cup in front of a record crowd of 53,369 attendees for the competition’s first round. The match was marked not only by the on-field action but also by the presence of West Ham co-owner David Sullivan, who attended despite being advised against it amid ongoing allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.
Portsmouth took the lead in the 33rd minute through Adrian Segecic. The Croatian midfielder capitalized on a clearance by West Ham defender Max Kilman, firing a left-footed shot that deflected into the net, much to the delight of the around 9,000 travelling Portsmouth supporters. Throughout the first half, Portsmouth maintained the majority of possession, with new signing Rocco Shein impressing in midfield. The visitors nearly doubled their advantage shortly before halftime with a long-range effort by Shein that West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen managed to save.
West Ham responded strongly before the interval, drawing level in the 43rd minute when Taty Castellanos finished off a cut-back from Mohamadou Kante. Two minutes later, captain Jarrod Bowen put the hosts ahead with a deflected shot that fooled Portsmouth defender Nicolas Schmid. The West Ham comeback was completed early in the second half when Castellanos headed in a cross from Bowen, concluding the scoring in the 50th minute following effective buildup starting with Kyle Walker-Peters.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo emphasized the importance of maintaining focus amid external distractions. “We are focused on the pitch. The noise that comes from outside cannot distract us,” he said, acknowledging the “noise” surrounding the club’s ownership but emphasizing the team’s job was on the field. Bowen echoed this sentiment, describing the match as a demanding start to the season and highlighting the team’s resilience. “We know there’s going to be an expectation this season that we’re going to get results week in, week out, but we know there are going to be setbacks in games and there are going to be times when we’re going to have to fight,” Bowen said. “We have to show we’re a winning side, and we did that today.”
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho expressed disappointment, praising his team’s first 40 minutes but lamenting critical lapses. “We played so well and then just shot ourselves in the foot. Five minutes of madness against a side like West Ham. If you give them that slight opening, they’re going to take it because they’ve got that quality all over the pitch,” he reflected.
The match highlighted West Ham’s ability to rally under pressure as well as lingering off-field challenges surrounding club ownership, with the team and management focusing on their immediate sporting objectives amid a complex background.