West Ham United Vs Queens Park Rangers Player Ratings: Castellanos' Extra-Time Header Seals Dramatic 2-1 Win

West Ham United edged their way into the next round of the FA Cup after a dramatic and hard-fought battle against Queens Park Rangers at the London Stadium. What looked set to be a routine outing quickly turned into a classic cup tie, as QPR pushed the Premier League side to their absolute limit.

The opening half was played with caution and intensity, but the breakthrough finally arrived just before the interval. Crysencio Summerville produced a moment of brilliance to put West Ham ahead, a goal that appeared to give the hosts control heading into the break.

QPR, however, refused to roll over. They emerged with real purpose in the second half and were rewarded when Richard Kone powered home a header to level the score, completely swinging the momentum. From that point on, the game became stretched and chaotic, with both sides trading chances as the prospect of extra time loomed.

And extra time delivered the decisive moment. With penalties on the horizon, Taty Castellanos rose highest to nod home a dramatic winner, finally settling a thrilling contest and breaking QPR hearts after a valiant display.

Here’s Sportsdunia’s West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways:

• West Ham were pushed to the limit, needing extra time to overcome a brave and organised QPR side.

• QPR showed real fight and belief, turning the game around in the second half and forcing a frantic finish.

• Moments of quality proved decisive, with Summerville and Castellanos delivering when it mattered most.

West Ham United Player Ratings vs Queens Park Rangers

Goalkeeper

Mads Hermansen - 6.5: He couldn't do much about the goal he conceded, a well-placed header. Made a couple of important saves, particularly one down to his left in the second half. His distribution was a little shaky at times, losing possession nine times. A decent, if not spectacular, performance.

Defenders

Maximilian Kilman - 7.0: A rock at the back for large parts of the game. We noticed his 11 clearances, which show how much pressure QPR applied. He was dominant in the air and won most of his duels. A very commanding display, although being dribbled past twice is a slight blemish.

Konstantinos Mavropanos - 6.0: Looked very composed on the ball before his evening was cruelly cut short by injury. His pass accuracy was a stellar 95%, and he looked comfortable bringing the ball out from the back. It's a shame we only got to see 45 minutes of him.

Jean-Clair Todibo - 7.0: A very busy performance from the defender. He had an incredible 138 touches, dictating play from deep. He was solid defensively, making five clearances and winning his fair share of duels. Missed a headed chance in the second half, but overall, a really strong showing.

Midfielders

Soungoutou Magassa - 7.0: Provided the crucial assist for Summerville's opener. He was energetic and tried to drive the team forward from midfield. However, what stood out to us was how often he lost possession. A mixed bag, but his creative contribution was vital.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6.0: This was not the 'Spider' we're used to seeing. He seemed a bit off the pace, losing seven of his eight duels which is very unlike him. Picked up a deserved yellow card and struggled to make an impact going forward. A disappointing night for him personally.

Freddie Potts - 7.5: A really bright spark in the West Ham midfield. His delivery was exceptional, creating four chances for his teammates. He was a constant creative outlet and his 80% cross accuracy was a joy to watch. He was a bit lightweight in the tackle but his offensive work more than made up for it.

Ezra Mayers - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance. He was neat on the ball and kept things ticking over without ever really grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. Did his job but didn't stand out before being substituted.

Forwards

Crysencio Summerville - 9.5: Unquestionably the man of the match. What a player. He scored a brilliant goal, provided the winning assist in extra time, and was a constant menace throughout. His six successful dribbles show how he terrified the QPR defence. From our perspective, he was on a different level to everyone else on the pitch. An absolutely scintillating performance and the highest-rated player.

Taty Castellanos - 8.5: The match-winner. He was a complete nuisance for the defenders, drawing fouls and working tirelessly. He took his goal, a poacher's header, with real composure under immense pressure. The yellow card was a negative, but his goal was the moment that decided this entire cup tie.

Jarrod Bowen - 6.5: A frustrating evening for the captain. He was incredibly busy, as always, but his final product just wasn't there. He lost possession a staggering 26 times. We know the quality he has, but it just didn't click for him in this one, despite his hard work.

Substitutes

Pablo - 5.5: Came on for the injured Mavropanos and looked a bit all at sea. He was rash in the challenge and missed a golden opportunity with a header. Looked like the pace of the game caught him off guard.

Tomás Soucek - 6.5: Added a different dimension when he came on. His aerial presence caused problems and he had a couple of close-range efforts saved. A useful impact from the bench.

Ollie Scarles - 6.0: Brought on for extra time and didn't have a whole lot of time to influence proceedings.

Manager

N. Simões Espírito Santo - 7.5: His team found a way to win, which is all that matters in the cup. The changes he made had an effect, and the team showed good character to not let their heads drop after conceding the equalizer. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.

Queens Park Rangers Player Ratings vs West Ham United

Goalkeeper

Joe Walsh - 8.0: A heroic performance. He made five saves, some of them absolutely top-drawer, to keep his team in the contest for so long. Commanded his box well with four punches. He can hold his head high despite being on the losing side.

Defenders

Jimmy Dunne - 6.0: A captain's performance marred by one huge mistake. He made 10 clearances and won a staggering number of his duels. However, the error that led to a goal was a critical moment that ultimately cost his team dearly. A real shame, as he was immense otherwise.

Steve Cook - 6.5: A classic, no-nonsense defensive display. He threw himself in front of everything, making 10 clearances. His use of the ball wasn't the best, but you can't fault his commitment and desire to defend his goal.

Rhys Norrington-Davies - 6.0: It was a difficult night for the defender. He struggled to get into the game, with a pass accuracy of just 52%. He battled hard but was often on the back foot against West Ham's tricky wingers.

Amadou Salif Mbengue - 5.5: A really tough game for him. He looked uncomfortable in possession, giving it away 16 times, and picked up a yellow card. His evening ended with an injury in extra time, capping a poor performance.

Midfielders

Karamoko Dembélé - 7.5: He was QPR's most exciting player before his unfortunate injury. His assist for the goal was a moment of pure quality. He looked sharp, drew fouls, and was the main creative spark for the visitors. A big loss when he went off.

Isaac Hayden - 7.0: A very disciplined and effective performance in the middle of the park. He read the game brilliantly, making four interceptions. He did the simple things well and provided a solid screen for his defence.

Nicolas Madsen - 8.0: From our perspective, he was QPR's best player on the day. An all-action display. He made an incredible six interceptions and three successful tackles, while also creating two chances going forward. A complete midfield performance.

Koki Saito - N/A: Only on the pitch for 18 minutes before an injury forced him off. Not enough time to give a fair rating.

Forwards

Richard Kone - 8.0: What a performance. He scored a fantastic header to bring his team back into the game and was an absolute handful all night. He won six aerial duels and worked tirelessly, showing a real desire to compete. He deserved to be on the winning side.

Rayan Kolli - 6.5: A frustrating night for the forward. He got into good positions and had three shots, but his finishing let him down. He worked hard and won a lot of his duels, but lacked that crucial bit of composure in front of goal.

Substitutes

Paul Smyth - 6.0: Came on early for the injured Saito. He was busy and won a couple of free kicks but didn't offer the same creative threat.

Daniel Bennie - 6.0: Had the tough task of replacing Dembélé and struggled to make a similar impact.

Sam Field - N/A: A late substitute with little time to affect the game.

Kieran Morgan - N/A: Brought on in the final minutes of normal time.

Kealey Adamson - N/A: An extra-time substitute who had no real chance to get involved.

Manager

J. Stéphan - 7.0: He should be proud of his team's performance. They were organized, resilient, and pushed a Premier League side all the way. His tactics were spot on for large parts of the game, and his players left everything on the pitch.

Man of the Match

Crysencio Summerville has been adjudged as Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

The worst performer in the West Ham United vs Queens Park Rangers game was Amadou Salif Mbengue of Queens Park Rangers.