CITY NO DRAW AS HAMMERS SHINE
West Ham 2 Manchester City 2
When the fixture list for 2021-22 was released, a simultaneous twinge of hope and historical grimace will have hit every Hammers’ fan. Now the fears are realised. If West Ham are to leapfrog Manchester United on the final day of the season and grab the remaining Europa League spot, they will need something from this game. To now add that it has become Mark Noble’s last home game for the club makes it effectively the game of the season.
Last Sunday’s thrashing of Norwich City has restored some calm after the disappointments of Frankfurt, but only the last day securing of a second successive Europa League place can restore the hope that we are seeing a sea change in the fortunes (previously hiding) of West Ham United.
This game, however, is a reminder of how Hammers have been somehow able this season to raise their game whenever encountering sides above them in the table. They need to get something from this fixture to retain their hopes of a top six finish, and two first half goals from Jarrod Bowen go a long way to making that dream a reality.
Bowen’s first, halfway through the half, owes much to the brilliance of his timed run onto Fornals’ spectacular through ball, and his finish after rounding the keeper is sublime. His second just before half-time is equally mesmeric, the delicate flick through by Antonio sending him clear, and the drilled finish he executes proves the work of a master clinician.
The second half is now an ultimate challenge for City who know they will all but seal the title if they can take three points this afternoon. The improved determination of Grealish pays immediate dividends when Soucek’s weak defensive header picks him out to drive in a shot that Dawson can only deflect past Fabianski. Antonio finds himself clean through after a defensive slip from Fernandinho, but his chip is hurried and frustratingly wide. The City equaliser comes from Mahrez’s curling inswinging free-kick which Coufal haplessly steers past his own keeper in a marred attempt to head away to safety.
The circle is almost squared when Dawson’s innocuously looking challenge on Jesus is forensically revisited by VAT to give Mahrez the chance to grab all three points for the champions elect from the spot. The gods prove just in the event as Fabianski brilliantly beats away the powerful spot kick, and Hammers keep the dream of another Europa League place alive. City, however, have let Liverpool. In for an unexpected final day championship opportunity.
1 Lucasz Fabianski, 3 Aaron Cresswell, 4 Kurt Zouma, 5 Vladimir Coufal, 41 Declan Rice (c), 15 Craig Dawson, 8 Pablo Fornals, 10 Manuel Lanzini, 28 Tomas Souček, 9 Michail Antonio, 20 Jarrod Bowen
Substitutes:, 16 Mark Noble
Goalscorer: Jarrod Bowen
