Fulham edged past a resilient West Ham in a thrilling Carabao Cup match, securing a 3-2 victory that propelled them into the last 16. Under the management of Álvaro Arbeloa, Fulham exhibited defensive fragility, nearly succumbing to a penalty shootout as West Ham equalized twice in the first half.

Key moments included:

• Oscar Bobb's decisive goal in the 78th minute, which came after Taty Castellanos missed a crucial opportunity for West Ham.
• César Palacios contributed significantly with a goal and an assist, while Kevin and Emile Smith Rowe struggled to impact the game.

Arbeloa expressed his frustration at half-time, emphasizing the need for improvement in defensive aggression. "We need to be more aggressive when defending. In the end, we need a massive save," he stated, highlighting the team's ongoing challenges.

The match was emotionally charged, featuring a tribute to Ludek Miklosko, the legendary former West Ham goalkeeper, who recently passed away. West Ham, despite resting key players ahead of their upcoming match against Millwall, responded well after falling behind early. Morato leveled the score after a well-placed cross from Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Fulham's initial lead came from a header by Rodrigo Muniz, but their inability to maintain control allowed West Ham to equalize through Pablo, who scored his first goal for the club. As the match progressed, both teams had opportunities, but it was Bobb's late intervention that ultimately sealed Fulham's advancement, despite West Ham's relentless pressure in the closing moments.