The second half saw Brentford intensify their pressure, eventually finding an equaliser in the 81st minute when Thiago converted his second penalty of the night following a foul by Crysencio Summerville. Despite chances for both sides in extra time—including a goalbound effort from Callum Wilson that was brilliantly saved by Caoimhin Kelleher—the match proceeded to a shootout.

West Ham remained faultless from the spot, with all five takers—Bowen, Taty Castellanos, Callum Wilson, Tomáš Souček, and Konstantinos Mavropanos—converting their kicks. The decisive moment came when attempted an audacious "Panenka" chip that was easily caught by a stationary Alphonse Areola, allowing Mavropanos to smash home the winning penalty. Tactical & Post-Match Notes

: This victory marked the first time West Ham reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in a decade.

: West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo made a key half-time change, replacing Adama Traoré with Crysencio Summerville, who provided significant attacking threat but later conceded the equalising penalty.

The encounter was a rollercoaster of momentum, defined by set-piece goals and penalty drama. West Ham captain opened the scoring in the 19th minute, pouncing on a loose ball after a corner. Brentford's in-form striker Igor Thiago equalised shortly after with his 20th goal of the season, but Bowen restored the Hammers' lead before half-time with a clinical penalty after Michael Kayode fouled Adama Traoré.