West Ham secured a dramatic FA Cup victory over Brentford after a captivating 2-2 draw led to a penalty shootout at the London Stadium. Konstantinos Mavropanos scored the decisive spot-kick to send the Hammers through.
West Ham advanced in the FA Cup after a pulsating tie against Brentford at the London Stadium. The Hammers secured a dramatic 5-4 victory in a penalty shootout, following a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes of captivating football.
Both London rivals entered this FA Cup encounter aiming for a deep run in the prestigious competition. West Ham sought to leverage their home advantage. Brentford, meanwhile, looked to overcome their opponents and progress to the next round.
West Ham started with intent, and Jarrod Bowen gave them the lead in the 19th minute. Bowen deftly guided a well-placed finish past Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. The early goal electrified the home crowd at the London Stadium.
Brentford responded swiftly, pushing forward for an equalizer. Igor Thiago leveled the score in the 28th minute. He powerfully struck home an assist from Nathan Collins, silencing the West Ham faithful.
The back-and-forth action continued at a high pace. Just six minutes later, West Ham earned a penalty. Bowen stepped up confidently and converted the spot-kick in the 34th minute, restoring West Ham's narrow advantage before the interval.
