West Ham win after coming from behind against Portsmouth

West Ham United kicked off their 2026/27 season at home, hosting Portsmouth in the first round of the Carabao Cup. The Hammers suffered relegation last season, and they will be hoping to bounce back this campaign and secure promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

The all-Championship tie at the London Stadium saw the hosts go into the game as favourites, but the visitors took the lead after 33 minutes. Adrian Segecic put Pompey in front and stunned the London Stadium. The midfielder, who scored 11 league goals last season, had netted his first of this campaign.

Despite Portsmouth being in front, their lead lasted just 10 minutes. Taty Castellanos levelled in the 43rd minute, but the first half action was not finished there. Two minutes later, Jarrod Bowen, who signed a new contract with the club in the summer, netted West Ham's second in as many minutes.

From seemingly set to go into the break behind, Nuno Espirito Santo's side were in front, going into the next 45.

The Hammers came out on form in the second half, and Castellanos needed just five minutes to get his second of the match. The Argentine scored seven in 22 last season for his current club, and he will be hoping to challenge for the Championship's golden boot this campaign.

While West Ham go into the upcoming campaign as one of the favourites for promotion from the Championship, there will be high expectations on the club to achieve that goal, and pressure could mount if they hit a bumpy run of form.

But right now, the Hammers will be more than happy to be in the second round of the Carabao Cup, and they go into their league opener vs Burnley with good momentum.