1. Another impressive late show!
West Ham United have not historically been known for scoring late winning goals, but David Moyes’ Hammers have made a bit of a habit of it in recent months.
Of course, Jarrod Bowen’s 90th-minute strike famously secured the UEFA Europa Conference League title against Fiorentina in Prague in June.
And in their last three Premier League games, the Irons have snatched a draw and two victories with goals scored in the 88th minute or later.
At home to Newcastle United, Mohammed Kudus drove in an 89th-minute equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw. Tomáš Souček then took centre-stage, heading in an 88th-minute winner to defeat Nottingham Forest 3-2 at London Stadium, before repeating the trick with his unstoppable volley at Burnley in the first minute of added-time.
When you factor in Kurt Zouma’s 85th-minute goal at Luton Town in September, which ultimately clinched a 2-1 victory after the Hatters scored a late consolation, West Ham have gained seven Premier League points from goals scored in the last ten minutes of matches this season.
Last season, the Hammers did not gain a single point from goals scored in the final ten minutes of any Premier League match.
2. Divin’s intervention
Just over a year ago, Divin Mubama thought he had scored his first senior goal for West Ham United, only for UEFA to decree FCSB defender Joyskim Dawa had instead netted an own-goal in the Irons’ 3-0 UEFA Europa Conference League group-stage win in Romania.
And lightning struck twice on Saturday, when Mubama celebrated after Mohammed Kudus’s cross appeared to come off the teenage striker and bounce into the Burnley net.
Moments later, the Premier League informed the world that, instead of crediting the goal to the Academy of Football graduate, it would go into the history books that Dara O’Shea had put through his own net.
Speaking to West Ham TV after the game, the Newham-born forward was in philosophical mood – ‘I like celebrating own-goals!’ he smiled, ruefully.
Mubama, of course, did score his first senior goal in the Conference League round of 16 second-leg win over AEK Larnaca at London Stadium in March, and his prolific form helped the U18s secure an FA Youth Cup and U18 Premier League South double in May.
It will surely not be long before the 19-year-old is celebrating his first Premier League goal, and nobody will be able to take it away from him!
3. Mo’s Man of the Match display
Mohammed Kudus won the supporters’ Man of the Match award following Saturday’s Premier League win at Burnley – and understandably so.
The Ghana international was visibly crestfallen after his challenge on Luca Koleosho saw the Clarets awarded a penalty early in the second half, which Jay Rodriguez converted to put the home side in front.
Rather than dwell on his disappointment, though, Kudus showed his determined character by setting up both West Ham United’s goals late on.
First, using quick feet and a burst of pace, he drove past three defenders and crossed for Divin Mubama, whose movement forced Dara O’Shea to put the ball into his own net.
Then, a minute into added-time, he collected the ball wide right, cut onto his left foot and delivered a perfect ball to the far post, where Tomáš Souček volleyed the winner past James Trafford.
Those two moments showed why Kudus is considered such an exciting, match-winning talent.
4. Big Tom strikes again!
Tomáš Souček is arguably in the best goalscoring form of his entire career.
West Ham United’s Czech Republic international midfielder has now found the net in his last four matches for Club and country, helping the Irons to back-to-back Premier League wins over Nottingham Forest and Burnley and his country, who he also captains, to qualify for UEFA Euro 2024.
The No28 is up to six goals for the Hammers this term – four short of his best tally of ten in 2021/22 – and nine overall for the season.
Souček’s half-dozen goals have helped West Ham win ten Premier League points, as well as victories in the UEFA Europa League and EFL Cup. He is now joint-tenth on the Club’s all-time Premier League goalscorers list with 24 to his name, alongside John Hartson and Frank Lampard.
