FriendlyAFC Bournemouth 0-2 West Ham United
Sunday, 3rd August 2025
by | Forum match thread
West Ham completed their Summer Series campaign with a second victory against a team likely to be in their peer group next season in front of a far from capacity crowd at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Graham Potter's side followed up the midweek success against Everton with a two-goal win against a side which finished 13 points ahead of them in the Premier League last season.And while the Hammers may have ridden their luck at times, it ultimately proved to be another successful afternoon as the Head Coach continued with his 3-5-2 experiment which saw Jarrod Bowen paired in attack with a rejuvenated Niclas Fullkrug.
Although West Ham's poor start saw the Cherries hit the woodwork twice in the opening quarter-of-an-hour, a few tweaks by Potter transformed the game.
And the German international added to his strike against Everton by sending West Ham ahead midway through the first half, when a fantastic cross by new signing Malick Diouf was turned back across goal by skipper Jarrod Bowen for Fullkrug to tap home.
The Hammers were made to wait until the 67th minute before scoring the goal which was to ensure victory. Once again Man of the Match Diouf was heavily involved as a low cross was met in the box by an advancing Bowen, who steered the ball into the far corner of the net.
Bournemouth were to hit the woodwork for a third time shortly after when indecision by Alphonse Areola saw a clearance rebound off an opponent before crashing back off the post.
Fortunately, on this occasion, Lady Luck was smiling on the Hammers and Potter's squad were able to see out the remaining minutes in order to secure a much-welcomed win, which guaranteed the Hammers second spot in the tournament.
West Ham Utd: Areola, Wan-Bissaka (Walker-Peters 70), Todibo (Mavropanos 70), Kilman, Aguerd, Diouf (Scarles 90+1), Potts (Rodriguez 70), Ward-Prowse (Orford 84), Paqueta (Irving 85), Bowen (Marshall 90+1), Fullkrug (Soucek 70)
Subs not used: Foderingham, Casey, Golambeckis, Alvarez, Fearon, Guilherme, Cornet
Goals: Fullkrug (24), Bowen (68)
Booked: Potts, Mavropanos
AFC Bournemouth: Neto (Petrovic HT), A.Smith (Araujo 69), Senesi (Hill 69), Zabarnyi (Mepham 83), Truffert (Soler 83), Tavernier (Semenyo HT), Adams (Winterburn 84), Scott (Faivre 84), Brooks (Rees-Dottin 84), Traore (Ouattara 69), Evanilson (Kroupi 69)
Subs not used: Paulsen, Dennis, Adu-Adjei, William
Booked: Araujo
Referee: Victor Rivas
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Click to view all West Ham United vs AFC Bournemouth match reports Click to view all match reports by Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.Player Ratings
Lukasz FabianskiFourth-oldest ever appearance maker for the club with this farewell start. Could do nothing with the goal, but made some smart stops, one eye-catching one, and still looks capable at this level. Fabianski has been one of the club's best ever signings, and has staked his claim to be West Ham's best goalkeeper of the Premier League era. Thank you, Fab.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Up and down the line all game, he was never really troubled and didn't make a big impression in attack. A worthy HOTY, a great first season.
Ollie Scarles
Every senior game is a learning experience for Scarles, and he improved across the game after being caught out a few times by Hutchinson. A good opening season in the first team, he has seemingly cemented himself as an option in the team and the squad from now on.
Jean-Clair Todibo
Repeated errors of judgement when going for challenges and engaging in duels that he did not need to be forcing the issue on. The goal exposed him, but it was not the first or last big mistake. He has had a topsy-turvy year in his first season in England, and the club will likely wish that obligation in his loan signing was not part of the contract.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Much-maligned, Mavropanos never gives anything but 100% effort and played well here. One mistake he then instantly cleaned up himself, and he was otherwise calm and strong in defence.
Max Kilman
Will not look back at this first season at the club with much fondness, but he has shown enough to suggest there is more to come. He has become a bit of a target due to his price tag, but he's had a solid, if unspectacular season and looks far from the problem of this team's defensive work. The block at the end of today's game to keep it 3-1 was fantastic.
James Ward-Prowse
Energetic performance and maintained possession well, getting his first goal of the season. For Ward-Prowse, it has been an incredibly frustrating year, first sent out on loan, then barely used there. He came back to a team struggling to perform and has worked hard in a position that isn't necessarily to his suiting, deepest in midfield to protect possession. The way he got into the box and was high on the press to get his goal is probably more what he wants to be doing, and he will hope the midfield signings are good enough that he can play in this role more often.
Edson Alvarez
If this was his final audition to earn a place next year, he did not look to pass it. He doesn't pass well enough for what Potter looks to do and is not one for control, which Potter wants. He is more erratic, and a move suits both parties. Here, he was busy and showed his defensive workrate, but he looks short of the technical skills the manager wants and the team needs.
Tomas Soucek
Another game where he was box-to-box without much impact. It is hard to judge what his role will be when things change with recruitment, but he looks like a player who will be useful in rotation rather than a key starter.
Jarrod Bowen
A goal and an assist to send a message to Tuchel, although considering his recent form it appears the German isn't watching West Ham games anyway. The anticipation to win the ball for the first goal is elite, and the reverse pass is a beautifully cute assist. His goal is then brilliant. The only times Fullkrug looked anywhere near a Premier League player was with Bowen near him, and at least there were signs those two could build an understanding.
Niclas Fullkrug
His moments with Bowen looked promising, but he was a passenger otherwise. A frustrating first season, and with no guarantees there will be another.
Substitutes
Vladimir Coufal(Scarles 73') Not much of Coufal today, but he has been an absolute warrior for the club and will be missed.
Mohammed Kudus
(Fullkrug 73') It could have been his goodbye, but that is a good cameo performance for a substitute, with a great finish. Five goals and three assists is not a good enough season, but his improvement under Potter has been promising.
Guido Rodriguez
(Ward-Prowse 80') A good finish to a bad season for Guido, who still looks a little too slow, but flew forward to get an assist late on.
Lucas Paqueta
(Alvarez 80') Couldn't influence the game.
Aaron Cresswell
(Todibo 90+') 11 years, one of the few left who had played at Upton Park, and a European champion with that Conference League win. In this reporter's eyes, he has surpassed Julian Dicks as the best left back for West Ham of the Premier League era. A special left foot and a character that nobody wants to lose, it has been a joy to see him finish the season so strongly.
Alphonse Areola
Did not play.
Andy Irving
Did not play.
Luis Guilherme
Did not play.
Danny Ings
Did not play.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Ollie Scarles, Jean-Clair Todibo, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman, James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek, Jarrod Bowen, Niclas Fullkrug.Goals: James Ward-Prowse 43 Jarrod Bowen 55 Mohammed Kudus 87 .
Booked: Max Kilman 0 .
Sent Off: None sent off. .
AFC Bournemouth: Walton, Tuanzebe, Greaves, O’Shea, Davis, Morsy (Luongo 88), Cajuste (Taylor 78), Hutchinson, Chaplin (Clarke, 70), Hirst (Delap 70), Broadhead (Szmodics 78).
Subs not used: Slicker, Woolfenden, Burgess, Boniface.
Goals: Broadhead (52).
Booked: Delap.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Tim Robinson.
Attendance: 29,771.
Man of the Match: Aaron Cresswell.