Fulham advanced to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup after a hard-fought match against West Ham, though their performance was not without flaws. West Ham, despite losing, showed determination and will continue their push for promotion from the Championship. The game was tense, with Fulham having two clear chances to extend their lead. A penalty shootout seemed likely before Fulham’s substitutes made the difference in the final stages. Manager Álvaro Arbeloa made effective use of his bench, and Oscar Bobb secured the win after a strong contribution from substitute Josh King. Before the match, there was a heartfelt tribute to Ludek Miklosko, a beloved former West Ham goalkeeper who passed away at 64 earlier in the week. This added emotional weight to the game, giving West Ham extra motivation as they faced their toughest opponent since their relegation last season. West Ham had rested some key players for this match due to a game against Millwall on Saturday, but they responded well after falling behind in the 13th minute. They tested Fulham in the air and equalized when a deep cross from Arne Engels found Konstantinos Mavropanos, who headed the ball to Morato, who scored his first goal since joining on loan from Nottingham Forest this month. Fulham’s lead was short-lived. Arbeloa, who had made nine changes, took a gamble by altering his lineup, a decision that had seemed risky after his team’s draw at Liverpool the previous week. Fulham regained the lead in a composed move, with Joachim Andersen playing a long ball that allowed César Palacios to run through a gap and score past Finlay Herrick. However, Fulham lacked resilience and were quickly pegged back when Pablo scored his first goal since joining from Nottingham Forest for £18.3 million in January. Nuno, the West Ham manager, showed his intent by introducing Jarrod Bowen and Manor Solomon early in the second half. Arbeloa needed his squad to be more active, but Kevin struggled on the left and Emile Smith Rowe looked disengaged as the attacking midfielder. Hugo Larsson at least tried to contribute after making his first start in midfield, but Fulham were in danger of drifting. Arbeloa’s frustration was clear when an aimless pass went out of play. Antonee Robinson injected some urgency in the 60th minute, forcing Herrick into a save. West Ham were beginning to believe they could turn the game, with Solomon, who had previously played for Fulham, coming close after a midfield challenge. Arbeloa was slow to introduce Bobb, King, and Gonzalo García, but their impact was immediate. Fulham’s substitutes pressed a tiring West Ham, increasing the pressure. King was alert when Mohamadou Kanté hesitated in a dangerous position, winning the ball and setting up Bobb to cut in from the right and score the winning goal. West Ham, currently leading the Championship after four straight league wins, pushed for an equalizer in the closing moments. Bowen shot over, and Taty Castellanos, who had replaced Pablo, had a chance cleared off the line. Fulham held on, surviving until the final whistle to advance to the next round.