West Ham Utd 3-2 Leicester City

  • by Staff Writer
  • Sunday, 11th April 2021

West Ham United are back into the top four of the Premier League after beating Leicester 3-2 at the London Olympic Stadium.

Goals from Jarrod Bowen and a Jesse Lingard brace sent West Ham three goals clear of the Foxes before two late strikes from Iheanacho left West Ham hanging on for the win - a victory that takes them to within a point of Leicester, losing only their second away game in the Premier League this season.


Embed from Getty Images


Once again the Hammers put their fans - not to mention manager David Moyes - through the wringer as they threatened to throw away a three-goal advantage, as was the case against Arsenal and Wolves despite leading by three goals in each match.

Yet despite racking up a -6 goal difference in the second half of those three matches West Ham have taken seven points from nine - results that have sent United tantalisingly close to qualification for Europe's premiere club competition for the first time.

The opening goal arrived a minute ahead of the half-hour mark when Arthur Masuaku escaped on the left flank before a deep cross found Vladimir Coufal. The Czech international pulled the ball back to the edge of the box where Jesse Lingard was waiting to steer a superb curling effort beyond Kasper Schmeichel, who didn't even move.

Possibly the most important goal of the game arrived with in the final minute of the first half, doubling West Ham's advantage going into the break - and yet again it was that man Lingard involved.


Embed from Getty Images


Issa Diop turned defence into attack by launching a long ball over the top of Leicester's defence for Jarrod Bowen to rush onto. The forward centred from the right for a supporting Lingard, completely unmarked, to pass into an empty net with 'keeper Schmeichel stranded.

As if Leicester's task wasn't difficult enough already the visitors conceded again just three minutes after the restart when Bowen scored his third goal in three games. Masuaku, involved again, won the ball 35 yards from Leicester's goal before finding Lingard who squared the ball for Tomas Soucek.

A short, first time pass inside by the midfielder found makeshift striker Jarrod Bowen, standing in once again for Michail Antonio, who delivered the fatal blow to give the Hammers what should've been an unassailable 3-0 lead.

However West Ham had other ideas and in the 70th minute Masuaku conceded possession - for the third time in a matter of minutes - allowing the in-form Iheanacho to expertly fire home from 20 yards out to give Brendan Rodgers' side a way back into the game.


Embed from Getty Images


West Ham thought they'd done enough to stave off the Leicester threat as the game entered six minutes of added-on time despite having lost Aaron Cresswell (hamstring) and Mark Noble (shoulder) to injury.

However the Foxes had other ideas and substitute Albrighton - who had been troubling the Hammers out wide since replacing Praet on the hour mark - delivered an inch-perfect cross which was turned home at the far post by Iheanacho, to bring Leicester to within one goal of West Ham.

The final five minutes or so saw Moyes' side resort to desperate defending once more as was the case at Molineux last Monday - and fortunately they were able - just about - to hold on in order to record a huge win against the visitors, who fell to only their second league defeat on the road this season.

Next up for West Ham on their unlikely road to Europe is a trip to Newcastle next weekend - if, that is, David Moyes can find enough players to make a team with Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell, Declan Rice, Mark Noble, Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio all currently on the injury list.


Embed from Getty Images



West Ham Utd: Fabianski, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell (Balbuena 53), Coufal, Noble (Johnson 81), Soucek, Masuaku, Fornals, Lingard, Bowen (Benrahma 84).

Subs not used: Martin, Trott, Alves, Fredericks, Coventry, Odubeko.

Goals: Lingard (29, 44), Bowen (48).

Booked: Soucek (10), Cresswell (30), Masuaku (90+2).

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Amartey (Thomas 45), Evans, Fofana, Pereira, Praet (Albirhgton 59), Tielemans, Ndidi, Castagne, Vardy, Iheanacho.

Subs not used: Ward, Mendy, Fuchs, Daley-Campbell, Leshabela, Tavares, Suengchitth.

Goals: Iheanacho (70, 90+1).

Booked: Pereira (33), Fofana (45+1), Ndidi (46).

Referee: Mike Dean.

Expected Goals: West Ham Utd 1.07; Leicester City 1.15.




* Something to say about this story? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.



More News