Match report | Hammers reach third round of Carabao Cup with hard-fought win against AFC Bournemouth
The game was still evenly matched as both sides were chasing the win. Ouattara put a free kick over the bar while at the other end Bowen’s fierce long-range shot forced Neto into a save.
Just when the game was crying out for some quality and the penalty shootout was approaching, Bowen and Mohammed Kudus combined to deliver. The former played the ball to Kudus, whose shot took a big deflection off the Hammers captain and caught Neto flat-footed.
West Ham thus sealed the deal, the threat from the Cherries was finally averted and the Londoners secured their place in the third round.
West Ham United: Fabiański, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo (Mavropanos 46), Kilman, Coufal, Álvarez (Rodríguez 60), Ward-Prowse (Paquetá 60), Souček, Bowen ©, Summerville (Emerson 74), Füllkrug (Kudus 74)
Substitutes: Foderingham (GK), Irving, Guilherme, Antonio
Destination: Bowen 88
Booked: Todibo, Wan-Bissaka, Fabiański
AFC Bournemouth: Neto ©, Smith, Huijsen, Senesi, Hill, Ouattara (Araujo 87), Scott (Cook 79), Christie, Tavernier (Kluivert 68), Sinisterra (Semenyo 68), Jebbison (Evanilson 46)
Substitutes: Travers (GK), Kerkez, Dennis, Zabarnyi
Yellow card: Scott, Evanilson
Referee: Peter Bankes
Participation: 47,381