Two clean sheets back to back and two lopsided goal totals for West Ham inspire a celebratory Monday morning be reliving the glory of the goals scored!
1-0 Michail Antonio
Leicester City controlled the flow of the match up until the opening strike by Michail Antonio opened the scoring for West Ham. The Foxes had held onto the ball well, but the defensive midfield duo of Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice and three centre-halves forced them out wide where possession could be turned over.
And turned over it was! Antonio then fought off the Leicester defender and won a free-kick which he took quickly just inside the opposition half, finding Cresswell at the back post. Cresswell, who had acres of space, sent a lovely cross into the box which found Antonio at the back post to nod it home.
His technique was terrific, as his angle completely cut out and avoided Kasper Schmeichel in goal, but the best part of this goal was his effort to get to the back post after sending the ball to Cresswell on the other flank.
Goals goals goals 😍 pic.twitter.com/NO2iXZPcZy
— West Ham United (@WestHam) October 4, 2020
2-0 Pablo Fornals
The second goal was made from nothing. A throw-in from Cresswell to Masuaku was bombed overhead by Cresswell, originally believed to be a pressure release from the Leicester forwards who were looking to force an error and grab possession. Instead, Cresswell found a sprinting Pablo Fornals.
The Spaniard was at full sprint catching the Leicester defenders flatfooted and begging for an offside that never came. His first touch on the aerial ball over the top was a thing of beauty, stopping the bounce and playing him in alone. A left-footed finish would double the lead for the Hammers. (See 0:39 in the clip above).
3-0 Jarrod Bowen
To cap off the game, Jarrod Bowen would make it 3 for 3 on West Ham forwards nabbing goals. With Leicester pouring more pressure on to get back in the match, a turn out of danger from Rice sprung Pablo Fornals who raced across the pitch, overlapping with a knackered Antonio, and heading centrally into the Leicester half.
He saw Bowen accelerating and laid the perfect ball into his path around Youri Tielemans, putting him in on goal alone. A calm, left-boot finish added a no-way-back third goal to the scoresheet and saw off the Foxes after another dominant game from the Hammers. (1:19 in the clip above).
The trio of Antonio, Fornals, and Bowen are electric and on fire at the moment. Antonio’s hold up play and physicality create space for Fornals (who is liberated from defensive coverage with a wingback behind him) to find Bowen streaking into dangerous areas. Seven goals in two matches against strong opposition is something to celebrate, even on a Monday!