Jarrod Bowen and Igor Thiago each netted twice in this fifth round tie, which ended 2-2 after the regulation 90 minutes and, with neither side managing to score in extra-time, the Hammers finally drew the sting from the Bees, winning 5-3 on spot-kicks.
“It was a long night but a good one,” enthused Nuno Espírito Santo after securing a last-eight, home clash against Leeds United.
“The atmosphere was amazing at the end and our fans deserve this moment of happiness because they’ve stuck with us and supported us. Tonight the boys gave something back.
“There was a desire to overcome a tough opponent like Brentford. That was our motivation, not the quarter-final draw.”
The Hammers head coach made seven changes from the side that had won at Fulham (1-0) last Wednesday with only Bowen, Tomáš Soucek, Axel Disasi and Mateus Fernandes keeping their shirts.
Nevertheless, his reshuffled team took the lead on 19 minutes, when Ollie Scarles’ half-cleared corner was recycled by Fernandes, whose right-wing cross was nodded down by Soucek, enabling Bowen to prod West Ham ahead.
With the half-hour mark approaching, though, Brentford levelled when Nathan Collins’ goal-bound header brushed off Thiago’s ribcage to level.
Ten minutes before the break, Bowen netted his second from the penalty-spot after referee Andrew Madley was directed to his pitch-side monitor following Michael Kayode’s trip on Adama Traoré
Brentford’s Michael Kayode (left) attempts a shot on goal under pressure from West Ham United’s Oliver Scarles (Image: PA)
“Overall, it was a tough match and very tight,” observed Nuno. “We’d started well and although they equalised shortly after we scored, we then showed a good reaction to take the lead again. We had good moments in the second half, too, but Brentford were always a big threat whenever the ball came into our penalty box.”
Indeed, Crysencio Summerville and Bowen could have increased home advantage before Thiago forced an additional half-hour with an 81st-minute penalty after the Hammers Dutch substitute was adjudged to have pushed Kayode.
Despite going close in extra-time, substitutes Callum Wilson and Romelle Donovan could not prevent a penalty shoot-out that saw both Bowen and Thiago successfully convert alongside Taty Castellanos before red-faced Dango Outtara gave Alphonse
Areola the simplest of catches with a woeful attempt that was more backpass than Panenka.
Holed-up in the home dug-out, Nuno could not bear to witness the late drama unfold but with Wilson, Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos clinically hitting the net, West Ham’s quarter-final place was assured.
“I get too nervous and anxious to watch,” he admitted. “I’m told that we took some good penalties. Each player was ready for the task.
“Now, by staying in two competitions we’ll keep everyone engaged – I made a lot of changes but those players who came in tonight showed they’re here to help as options.”
Sitting in 18th-spot, the Hammers return to Premier League action on Saturday night, when they face second-place Manchester City at London Stadium (kick-off 8 pm).
“We have to be fresh and need to recover well but being happy after a win like this will certainly help the legs. It makes everything good,” concluded Nuno. “We’re still in a tough place and have to keep going but good performances and good results will help a lot.”