West Ham Utd 2-3 Tottenham

  • by Staff Writer
  • Tuesday, 26th February 2013

A last minute wonder goal by Gareth Bale denied Sam Allardyce's side a share of the spoils on an emotionally-charged evening in east London.

With the game heading for stalemate, the Welsh midfielder popped up to score one of the goals of the season to win all three points for the visitors in what was a thrilling London derby.

Bale had given the visitors an early lead with just 12 minutes on the clock when he was allowed to pick his spot, having been granted far too much time by West Ham's retreating defence.

But West Ham- who had started the evning by paying their respects to former captain Bobby Moore on the 20th anniversary of his death - were back on level terms within a few minutes when Andy Carroll, who moments earlier had been taunted by chants of 'he scores once a year' by the visiting supporters, scored from the penalty spot to make it 1-1.

Joe Cole completed the turnaround on the hour mark when he beat the offside trap before converting a Matt Taylor - on for the injured Kevin Nolan - through ball.

With Jussi Jaaskelainen performing heroics in the West Ham goal it looked for a while as if United would hang on for all three points. Indeed, the Hammers should have extended their lead when Matt Taylor was sent through one-on-one with Spurs 'keeper Hugo lloris, before seeing his effort blocked.

That miss proved to be the game's turning point and within a matter of minutes Spurs drew level through sub Sigurdsson who bundled the ball over the line follopwing a melee inside the six-yard box.

That's how it looked as if the game would stay until the in-form Bale intervened to break Hammers hearts. Having been felled five yards outside the penalty area, the Welshman recovered miraculously to collecy a short pass which he lifted over Jaaskelainen's head into the far corner.

We'll have a full match report - plus pictures from the build-up to the game and the thoughts of the two managers - for you sometime tomorrow.

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