Taty Castellanos shone for West Ham United, scoring twice in a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over Portsmouth during the Carabao Cup first round. This match, attended by a record crowd of 53,369, marked a positive start for the Hammers following their relegation from the Premier League just two months prior.

The game took a turn in the 33rd minute when Portsmouth took the lead through Adrian Segecic, whose left-footed shot deflected off a West Ham defender into the net. However, West Ham responded just before halftime, leveling the score with a goal from Castellanos after a cut-back from Mohamadou Kante.

Jarrod Bowen, the team captain, quickly put the Hammers ahead with a deflected long-range shot two minutes later. Castellanos sealed the victory by nodding in Bowen’s cross, showcasing a strong performance that delighted the home fans.

Amidst the excitement, David Sullivan, co-owner of West Ham, attended the match despite warnings from the London Stadium operators regarding ongoing allegations against him related to sexual misconduct, which he firmly denies. London Stadium released a statement indicating that they had advised against his presence due to potential safeguarding concerns, although they acknowledged the club did not see an ongoing risk.

In the wider context of the tournament, Millwall also advanced to the second round, defeating Queens Park Rangers in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw, with goalkeeper Lukas Jensen making crucial saves to secure the win.