West Ham’s Issa Diop is hoping the Hammers can go on to win the Carabao Cup after helping fire them into the third round with a superb strike against Wimbledon on Tuesday night.
The Frenchman, who joined West Ham this summer from Toulouse, starred as Manuel Pellegrini’s side recorded their first victory of the season with a 3-1 win at Kingsmeadow.
The hosts took the lead after just two minutes thanks to a goal from Joe Pigott, however were reduced to ten men shortly after when Rod McDonald saw red for his challenge on Javier Hernandez.
Diop then made the Dons pay when he hit home a stunning equaliser mid-way through the second-half.
“I received the ball and I shot, so I’m happy for the team. It wasn’t my best goal, as I think I scored a better one for Toulouse with a volley!” said a modest Diop of his strike.
Pick that one out! 🔥
Issa Diop fires @WestHamUtd with this ferocious effort! 🚀
Watch the @Carabao_Cup clash between @AFCWimbledon and @WestHamUtd live on Sky Sports Football now!
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— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 28, 2018
“It was very hard for us to score a goal because they defended very well. We tried and we tried and we tried and thankfully we scored.”
The 21-year-old defender crashed a header against the bar just moments after his goal, however it was Angelo Ogbonna and Javier Hernandez who completed the turnaround for the Hammers with two goals in the final ten minutes.
The win was Manuel Pellegrini’s first as West Ham manager after a disappointing start to life at the London Stadium.
The Hammers have lost all three of their Premier League games against Liverpool, Bournemouth and Arsenal so far, however the Carabao Cup triumph will come as a much needed confidence booster for the Argentine and his side.
And Diop hopes that the Hammers can now kick-on after securing that all important first victory – perhaps going as far as lifting their first ever League Cup trophy.
“It’s good for our confidence because we lost our first three games, so now we’re focused on Saturday and Wolverhampton and I hope we win this game,” he said.
“I hope I can score again, but I prefer it when we win and I don’t score. Actually, I hope I score and we win, as that’s better!”
“I hope we can continue winning our games and we can win this competition!”