West Ham United secured a place in the FA Cup fourth round with a narrow and hard-fought 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers, a win that required extra time and was sealed by new signing Taty Castellanos' first goal for the club.
A Frayed Atmosphere and a Glimpse of the Future
The match at the London Stadium was played against a backdrop of discontent among home supporters, with protests aimed at the club's ownership. The occasion felt less like a classic cup tie and more like a potential preview of a Championship fixture next season, a reality both sets of fans acknowledged. QPR's travelling supporters taunted their hosts with chants of "We'll see you all next year," highlighting the Premier League relegation fears hanging over the Hammers.
Despite cheap ticket initiatives, the atmosphere was mutinous at times, with the move to the Olympic Stadium a recurring point of contention. On the pitch, the game initially did little to lift the mood. West Ham's first shot did not arrive until the 32nd minute, a pattern of cautious play that frustrated the crowd.
Injuries and a Shift in Momentum
The first half was punctuated by injuries that disrupted both teams' plans. Rangers lost Kōki Saitō to a muscle problem, but the more serious blow fell to West Ham, as defender Konstantinos Mavropanos was stretchered off with a significant injury, adding nine minutes of stoppage time.
His replacement, another January signing Pablo Felipe, prompted a tactical shift from manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The change seemed to spark West Ham into life just before the break. Following good work from Pablo and Taty Castellanos, the ball found its way to Crysencio Summerville, who fired the Hammers into a 1-0 lead at half-time.
QPR Fight Back Before Castellanos Decides It
QPR, managed by Julien Stéphan, stuck to their counter-attacking plan and were rewarded in the second half. After some sustained pressure, the lively Karamoko Dembélé created space and delivered a cross for Richard Kone to head home an equaliser, setting up a tense finale.
Neither side committed fully to finding a winner in normal time, with QPR's defence, marshalled by Steve Cook and Jimmy Dunne, throwing themselves into crucial blocks. The game drifted into extra-time, where West Ham showed more urgency to avoid a penalty shootout. The decisive moment came when Summerville sped down the flank and delivered a perfect cross for Taty Castellanos to nod in the winning goal, sparking celebrations with his teammates.
The victory offers a temporary respite for Nuno and provides positive signs from recent signings Castellanos and Summerville, who combined for the winner. However, the laboured performance against Championship opposition underscores the significant challenges facing West Ham as they fight to retain their top-flight status.
