West Ham Edges Past Bournemouth With Controversial Late Goal In EFL Cup

West Ham advanced to the third round of the EFL Cup after a controversial late goal by Jarrod Bowen secured a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at London Stadium. The match seemed destined for penalties until Bowen deflected in the winner with just two minutes remaining, although the ball appeared to hit his arm.

Bournemouth dominated much of the first half, with winger Dango Ouattara testing West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski with an acrobatic shot. Eight minutes into the second half, Marcus Tavernier's free-kick struck the woodwork, but Bournemouth couldn't capitalise on their chances despite an expected goals (xG) of 1.01 compared to West Ham's 0.8.

Bowen's decisive goal came from Mohamed Kudus' strike in the 88th minute, and without VAR, there was no review to overturn it. This goal marked Bowen's third consecutive game scoring in the EFL Cup, making him West Ham's most potent attacking threat with five attempts and three on target.

The Hammers have now scored in each of their last six EFL Cup matches, setting a new club record for consecutive games finding the net in this competition. This win sets them up for their next Premier League clash against Manchester City at home on Saturday.

West Ham will face reigning champions Manchester City at London Stadium on Saturday. Meanwhile, Bournemouth will travel to Goodison Park to take on Everton on the same day.

Bournemouth had several opportunities but failed to convert any into goals. Their inability to score ultimately led to their downfall when Bowen turned in Kudus' late strike. The absence of VAR meant that Bournemouth had no chance for a reprieve.

Julen Lopetegui's side struggled throughout much of the first half and were under pressure from Bournemouth's attacks. However, they managed to hold firm and capitalise on their late opportunity to secure victory.

Bowen brings us the win against Bournemouth pic.twitter.com/i1FP1VHONG

— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 28, 2024

This victory allows West Ham to continue their journey in the EFL Cup, while Bournemouth must now focus on their upcoming league fixtures. Both teams will be looking to bounce back and improve their performances as they return to Premier League action this weekend.