Sunday, March 3

Soucek stunner earns smash and grab win for Hammers

Everton 1 West Ham 3

It's rather a nervous two hours in front of BBC Sport's live text for this one. In a bid to provide blog colour Matt is at a Faroese theatre production, Nigel is at Wrexham versus Accrington where Reg is completing his 92 League grounds, Michael is promoting his play in deepest Worthing and Fraser is watching on his Moyesian fluid link.

Areola produces a good save from Beto in the first half, but it all seems to be going wrong before the break when Zouma rather unluckily concedes a penalty for a point blank handball. Beto opts to take it, but Areola makes a smart save to his left to defy the Everton striker.

We go in level at the break but a familiar away defeat seems to beckon when Garner plays in a great curling cross and Beto gets beyond Dinos to head home. After Mavropanos loses possession Areola then has to make a fantastic save from McNeil, somehow holding the winger's close-range effort.

But the Hammers are suddenly level on 62 minutes. Kudus' shot is deflected for a corner. James Ward-Prowse curls in his usual pinpoint delivery and King Kurt rises to head home. Zouma declines to celebrate against his former club.

Desperate Everton still press. Areola has to make his best save of the day, tipping over a deflected effort from Beto. Soucek has to clear Doucoure's effort off the line. This is gritty stuff from the Hammers and Areola next defies Calvert-Lewin's low effort. Phillips comes on for Ward-Prowse and manages not to give anything away.

The game is a minute into added time when Kudus crosses from the left. Tomas Soucek chests it down and then sends a sensational effort into the top corner with the outside of his boot. What a goal. Tomas whips off his shirt, does a twirl, and looks like he's going to celebrate with double potato salad. It was also pleasing to see Kalvin Phillips involved in the initial move to feed Kudus. 

"West Ham are Massive!" sing the away fans as West Ham break from an Everton corner in the 95th minutes. Bowen runs the length of the pitch and feeds Alvarez, who chips expertly over Pickford. Wow.

This never looked like being a 3-1 away win, but it's a great resilient performance from West Ham, inspired by Areola. And It's pleasing to see Moyes silence with doubters with two wins and seven goals in a week. This result will be a real boost for the trip to Freiburg. Irons!

No comments: