A late header from Angelo Ogbonna fired high-flying West Ham to victory at Leeds United.
The centre back scored a bullet header with 10 minutes remaining to seal a comeback win for the Hammers at Elland Road.
It was a solid away performance from David Moyes’ side who now sit fifth in the Premier League – just four points behind table-toppers Tottenham, albeit having played a game more.
Going into Friday night’s encounter, both teams entered it off the back of 3-1 defeats with West Ham losing at home to Manchester United, while Leeds were beaten at Stamford Bridge by Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.
West Ham started slowly and were on the back foot when they conceded a penalty after Leeds striker Patrick Bamford was brought down in the penalty area by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich stepped up to take the penalty against his Polish compatriot but it was initially saved. However, Klich’s blushes were spared when a VAR review determined that Fabiasnki had left the goalline before it was taken. As a result, the spot-kick had to be re-taken which Klich duly converted.
West Ham responded well and began to dominate the first half. Their momentum was duly rewarded on 25 minutes when Tomas Soucek levelled the game with a close-range header from a Jarrod Bowen corner.
The visitors continued to threaten throughout the first half, with Bowen frequently finding himself in space on the right-hand side. Bowen’s persistent first-half threat resulted in a double change down the Leeds left-hand side at half-time with Jamie Shackleton and Helder Costa replacing Ezgjan Alioski and Jack Harrison.
Despite Marcelo Bielsa’s substitutions the home side struggled to create chances in the second half, with Moyes’ men happy to soak up the pressure and hit Leeds on the counter-attack.
West Ham were patient in the second half as several chances fell to striker Sebastian Haller who failed to beat young Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
However, they broke the deadlock late in the second half. Defender Aaron Cresswell whipped in a fine cross which was met by a powerful header from the rising Ogbonna, whose goal completed the West Ham comeback.
There was also an impressive performance from Hammers’ summer signing Said Benrahma who was handed his first start after Arthur Masuaku underwent knee surgery on Thursday.
The spirit shown by Moyes’ team will no doubt please the Scot, who now turns his attention to Wednesday’s London derby against Crystal Palace.
For Leeds and Bielsa it was another game where a failure to defend set pieces cost them a chance for three points.
With a big midweek game at home to Newcastle, Leeds will now look for victory over the Magpies who sit just one place above them in the Premier League table.
By Fraser Day
