West Ham Edges Bournemouth in Carabao Cup Thriller
Andoni Iraola, the Bournemouth manager, expressed his frustration after his team was eliminated from the Carabao Cup due to a controversial handball decision. West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen scored a late winner, but replays showed that the ball hit his elbow before entering the net. With VAR not available at this stage of the competition, the goal stood, and the Hammers advanced to the third round.
Iraola was furious, stating, “You think it’s impossible that something else happens after the week we’ve had, but it has happened again. It’s even more clear, no? I don’t know what to say. It’s obvious that we are not making these mistakes, but we are paying the consequences. This is very, very obvious.”
The match was a closely contested affair, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances in the first half. The breakthrough finally came in the 88th minute when Bowen’s shot deflected off his elbow and into the net.
Bournemouth had its share of opportunities, particularly in the second half, but was unable to capitalize. Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier both hit the woodwork, and the visitors were left to rue their missed chances.
West Ham’s Julen Lopetegui celebrated his side’s narrow victory, which marked their progression to the next round of the competition. The Hammers will be relieved to have escaped with a win, but the controversy surrounding the goal will undoubtedly be a talking point in the coming days.
MATCH FACTS
West Ham: Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Alvarez, Bowen, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Summerville, Fullkrug
Bournemouth: Neto, Smith, Huijsen, Senesi, Hill, Scott, Christie, Ouattara, Tavernier, Sinisterra, Jebbison
