Reliving that palpitation inducing West Ham comeback

A win is a win is a win is a win, but man this one feels a little sweeter given the circumstances. Then I think about it some more and realize that letting Huddersfield Town go up 3-1 at home is not something we should be celebrating. Regardless, the three points are banked and the Irons move forward.

After trading benign blows for the first ten minutes or so, West Ham took control from Huddersfield Town and forced a corner kick. After the delivery went long, a ball back to Lanzini at the top of the box saw him fouled as he stepped forward.

Mr. Reliable, Mark Noble stepped up to the spot (notably with Marko Arnautovic on the pitch) and went dead center to beat a diving Lossl. West Ham were up 1-0 and the game looked to be in hand. The Hammers were starting to dominate the game before the penalty and with Huddersfield being so poor this season there was no reason to think West Ham would be troubled for the three points.

What would follow would be inexplicably poor defending and a team shocked by opposition they clearly overlooked. A free header from Bacuna off of a corner leveled the game a minute after Noble’s goal, a flat low cross into the box would evade Antonio, Zabaleta, and Ogbonna before Grant tucked it home in the 30th minute giving the Terriers the lead at the half.

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Stunned would be an understatement. West Ham was getting slapped in the mouth at home by a team who only has three wins.

Before the third goal, Chicharito replaced a rather invisible Michail Antonio, in an effort to go more attacking. Likewise, Noble was replaced by Samir Nasri in the 59th minute for more attacking presence. Despite the improved possession and attacking threat Grant would get a second as he turned Diop on a counter attack, and had Ogbonna run right past him allowing him to shoot into the top corner.

It was 3-1 with just 25 minutes left to play.

In a move of madness, Manuel Pellegrini took Arnautovic off the pitch and replaced him with none other than Lucas Perez. The man cast away from warm weather training and sentenced to (West Ham) life in the U23s entered the pitch to a chorus of boos. Were the fans booing another lackluster performance from Arnautovic or the subbing on of Perez?

Regardless, Perez came on and immediately impacted the game, setting up a glorious chance within minutes of getting into the action. The boost felt after Arnautovic left the pitch was visible and inspired the team to start playing better.

After another corner conceded by Huddersfield, Angelo Ogbonna nodded in his reparations for the third goal against and West Ham had life in the game.

There was some exciting play from West Ham, who looked poised to nab up the tying goal in the match. Another corner would see the Irons do just that. After a Cresswell delivery went long across the box, Nasri did incredibly well to win the ball back from his defender and whipped in a back post cross to perfection. Past all of the towering defenders, Chicharito was there heading a ball just inches off of the pitch into the back of the net.

West Ham were level, but not content with a draw anymore. The Hammers smelled blood in the water and continued to attack. A common trend in this game was West Ham corners returning fruitful gains, and in the 90th minute, the Irons had another.

This time taken short, Cresswell passed to Anderson on the top of the box who dropped in a teasing header into the middle of the box. Lossl came off his line as if Hernandez pulled him himself and with a backward, Chicharito-esque style flick, West Ham’s little pea had his second and secured all three points for the Irons.

In the end, it was an awesome comeback and one that keeps West Ham’s hopes for Europa football alive. There was a lot to dislike in this game from West Ham’s efforts but it became abundantly clear who wants to start and play for West Ham and who doesn’t.