The Swans head coach conceded his side failed to finish the tie when they were on top – before they crashed out 6-5 on penalties after it ended 2-2 following extra time.
The Swans were knocked out in a chaotic shoot-out settled by teenage substitute Ollie Bostock, whose composure under pressure ended West Brom’s long wait for an away victory and sent the Baggies into the fourth round.
READ MORE: Vitor Matos is Moving Swansea City Onwards and Upwards While Others Fall
But from Swansea’s perspective, Matos was left reflecting on a contest his team largely controlled yet could not put to bed.
“We had the chances to close the game out, but we didn’t. We need to work on our finishing,” said the Swansea head coach.
"It was emotional because of the two goals in extra time. From our side, I think we had the chances to close the game.
"Especially in cup games when you don't finish the game, you give them the opportunity, and that's what happened.
"The team showed resilience, and I think that's quite important to see and I really like to see that. Then of course you go to penalties and that's what it is.
“We are frustrated of course, because it is always tough to go out on penalties,” he added.
READ MORE: In Praise of Harry Wilson . . . Fulham Folk Hero and Wales’ World Class Wizard
Swansea had beaten West Brom 1-0 at the same stadium just 10 days earlier in the Championship, but this time could not find the decisive touch despite enjoying the better of the play for long spells.
After a subdued first half, the match came to life early in the second period when Jisung Eom fired Swansea ahead with a stunning finish into the top corner.
West Brom responded quickly, Josh Maja equalising from a corner six minutes later, and with chances scarce thereafter the tie went to extra time at 1-1.
READ MORE: Vitor Matos Era Taking Effect as Swansea City go as Close to Play-offs as to Drop Zone
Swansea came agonisingly close to regaining the lead when substitute Malick Yalcouye struck the post, only for Jed Wallace to put the visitors ahead in the 108th minute after turning in a cross from Bostock.
Once again, Swansea found a response. Zeidane Inoussa scored his first goal for the club five minutes later to force penalties, underlining the persistence Matos was keen to highlight even in defeat.
“But one big thing I think we can take is the reaction we showed in the game, the boys were really showing character and willing to keep trying to get the game to go our way,” he said.
The shoot-out itself was a tense affair. After 10 successful penalties, Swansea’s Bobby Wales saw his effort saved by Josh Griffiths before West Brom’s Chris Mepham blasted over the bar.
Yalcouye then missed his attempt, leaving 18-year-old Bostock with the chance to win it on the 14th kick.
The Wales Under-19 international made no mistake, hammering home to spark wild celebrations.
For West Brom, the victory provided rare relief amid a difficult season and ongoing managerial uncertainty following Ryan Mason’s departure. Interim boss James Morrison praised the young match-winner’s nerve.
“We’d practised taking penalties and I was pleased we got the right players to take the,. When Ollie stepped up I had my fingers crossed in my pocket,” said Morrison.
“He’s been training really well with us and I wanted to see if he could handle the intensity. He had a hand in the second goal and then he stepped up when it really mattered for the penalty.”
Morrison was less impressed by the spectacle overall, admitting: “It was one of the worst games of football you could have watched.
“I talked beforehand about the need to dig in and we did that when we were under pressure.
”I was pleased with that, and the way we took our goals, but other than that it was a bad game of football.”
For Matos, however, the overriding feeling was frustration at a missed chance rather than the lottery of penalties.
“We dominated most of the game, we had the better chances, but when it comes down to penalties this is sometimes how things can go,” he said.
“We had the better moments before we scored, then we suffered to go back to 1-1 so soon. Then we go 2-1 down, but we fought to score again and then we had chances to go on and win the game.
“The effort the boys put in and the resilience we showed to come back was really good.
“We have lost, but when you lose on penalties it is not about anyone being guilty. We are together in every moment and that is no different now.”
