The Blues' first-ever visit to the London Stadium ends in defeat and an early exit from the Carabao Cup.
Despite an encouraging opening half-an-hour, Pompey surrender a lead and lose out to the highest ranked side to compete in the First Round of the competition at the London Stadium, in front of a record crowd for this stage of the competition.
A brace from Valentín Castellanos and a left-footed strike from Jarrod Bowen, was enough to cancel out Adrian Segečić’s opener.
Two of Pompey’s six summer additions in Rocco Shein and Luke Brooke-Smith were in the starting XI, while Daniel Bielca, Odin Bailey, Eoin Kenny, and Marko Milovanović were named amongst the subs bench.
Pompey held the bulk of the possession for the opening half-an-hour, with Shein controlling the midfield.
There was a hydration break around the 25-minute mark; however, shortly after, the Blues managed to take the lead.
And it was last season’s top-scorer Segečić, who made it 1-0, when the Croatian attacker smashed home Shein’s cleared corner on the half-volley, which took a deflection as it flew past Mads Hermansen.
Despite Shein coming close to doubling Portsmouth’s lead, the Hammers replied with an equaliser against the run of play, as Mohamadou Kanté tee’d up Castellanos, who placed the ball past Nicolas Schmid to make it 1-1.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side continued to build some momentum, and managed to then take the lead via their captain Bowen, who fired in a left-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box, to make it 2-1 on the cusp of the interval.
HALF-TIME: West Ham United 2-1 Portsmouth
Bowen almost made it 3-1 just two minutes after the break, but Northern Ireland International Terry Devlin put in a goal-saving challenge to deny the 22-time-capped England International.
The Irons continued as they left off late on in the first 45, and then eventually made it 3-1, with Castellanos earning himself a brace as the Argentine forward nodded in Bowen’s cross into the penalty area.
Thomas Waddingham did replace Brooke-Smith on 52 minutes, but had to come off just eight minutes later, after Edson Álvarez went studs first into the Aussie striker's calf, and was subsequently replaced by Marezi, who came on for his competitive Blues debut.
Kenny and Bailey also came on for their competitive debuts in Pompey colours, with Zak Swanson and Luke Le Roux coming on.
Pompey did try to pull a goal back when Segečić pumped a ball into Marezi, but the Serbian striker’s header went wide.
John Swift was the fifth and final sub of the afternoon, as he replaced Bishop, with Marezi going up top on his own and Regan Poole taking the armband.
Mousinho’s side did continue to try and find a consolation in the eight minutes of added time; however, it ended in a loss for the Blues.
FULL-TIME: West Ham United 3-1 Portsmouth
West Ham: 1. Hermansen (GK), 2. Walker-Peters, 15. Mavropanos, 3. Kilman, 30. Scarles, 4. Álvarez (12. Diouf), 17. Kanté (8. Ward-Prowse), 61. Orford, 20. Bowen (C) (66. Ajala), 19. Pablo, 11. Castellanos (34. Veltman), (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 23. Areola (GK), 40. Earthy, 42. Casey, 58. Golambeckis, 63. Mayers
Goals: Castellanos 43’ & 50’, Bowen 45’
Bookings: Álvarez 54’
Manager: Nuno Espírito Santo
Portsmouth: 1. Schmid (GK), 24. Devlin, 5. Poole, 6. Shaughnessy, 22. Swanson (32. Kenny), 19. Shein, 16. Le Roux (27. Bailey), 10. Segečić, 32. Adams, 28. Brooke-Smith (20. Waddingham) (29. Milovanović), 9. Bishop (C) (8. Swift) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 31. Bielca (GK), 4. Knight, 14. Matthews, 55. Dia
Goals: Segečić 33’
Bookings: Segečić 86’, Adams 88’
Head coach: John Mousinho
Referee: Adam Herczeg
Venue: London Stadium
Attendance: 53, 369 (including 9,000+ Pompey fans)
As well as reading this match report, you can also listen back to this afternoon's post-match assessment, which was recorded LIVE at the time from the London Stadium immediately after the full-time whistle. The Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast, presented by Jake Smith, Graham Butterworth and Danny Thompson.
Jake will be back on Monday (August 10th) evening from 6pm with 2 more Blues fans to further analyse the match.
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