West Ham 0-0 Manchester City (5-3 on penalties)
by Paul Donovan
at London Stadium

WEST HAM’S progress in three competitions continued at the London Stadium, as League Cup holders Manchester City became the latest victims of David Moyes’s all conquering Hammers.

It was the first time in five seasons that City had lost a game in the League Cup.

West Ham were indebted on the night to reserve goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who at one point pulled off three successive saves, each one better than the one before.

Both clubs put out weakened teams, though City still looked formidable, with Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Stirling, Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker all in the starting line-up.

Before the end, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Gabriel Jesus had all joined the fray but to no avail, as the resilient Hammers held on.

West Ham captain Mark Noble led from the front, seeing an early shot parried by City keeper Zack Steffen.

But it was City who dominated possession for large parts of the game, without ever getting that decisive finish.

West Ham gave the ball away too much in the first half as they struggled to clear their lines.

One move saw Cole Palmer put Ilkay Gundogan in but he fired just wide.

West Ham found more space in the second half, with Aaron Cresswell setting up Arthur Masuaku, whose cross shot was parried by Steffen but fell to Andriy Yarmolenko, who saw his shot blocked.

De Bruyne then saw his shot pushed round the post by Areola before the keeper pulled off a brilliant point-blank save from Raheem Sterling.

The usually reliable Tomas Soucek twice found space in the area but fired wide.

West Ham brought on Premiership regulars Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen, offering more movement and attacking options.

However, it was when the game moved to penalties that the sustitutions really paid off, with Bowen and Benrahma calmly striking home — the latter finishing the job with the last kick. Five out of five, Foden missing the crucual kick for City.

West Ham assistant manager Stuart Peirce praised the resilience of the players.

“We are in a building process, there is real honesty in the dressing room,” said Peirce, adding that young right back Ben Johnson “is developing, getting better and better.”