For thus lengthy, this recreation on the south coast appeared destined to finish with two sides huffing and puffing and taking a share of the spoils away from a chilly, dreary evening.
After which, all hell broke unfastened.
Lucas Paqueta’s penalty three minutes from time — after VAR had determined Tyler Adams had handballed Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross — appeared to have sealed it for West Ham, just for Enes Unal to twist in a shocking free-kick in stoppage time and snatch a degree for Bournemouth.
What a breathless end to a ridiculous recreation on the Vitality Stadium, the place a close to 40-year-old Lukasz Fabianski defied his age by pulling off a string of saves and Kepa Arrizabalaga denied Niclas Fullkrug from point-blank vary, each side will come away content material sufficient.
A degree that takes Andoni Iraola’s aspect into sixth and the European locations. For West Ham it was the primary time this season they’d adopted up a win with out a defeat to maintain Julen Lopetegui in a job for Christmas.
As a result of in what is supposed to be the season of goodwill, the Premier League is deep into sacking season as homeowners of sides in direction of the underside get twitchy. Steve Cooper at Leicester, gone. Gary O’Neil at Wolves, gone. Russell Martin at Southampton, gone.
Enes Unal scored a shocking free kick to rescue a degree for Bournemouth in opposition to West Ham
Unal’s effort was completely positioned from about 30 yards out as he made it two objectives in two
Lucas Paqueta appeared to have received the sport for West Ham after a controversial late penalty
West Ham have, for now, held their nerve. Victory in opposition to Wolves eased the rapid stress on Julen Lopetegui and the sensation amongst membership chiefs final week was that though performances wanted to enhance, there was no want to make a direct change.
Neither aspect, although, began like groups coming into it with victories beneath their belts. It was scrappy, it was sloppy. Misplaced passes and ricochets between crowds of our bodies littered a lot of the early exchanges.
What else must you anticipate at a stadium that had seen simply 16 objectives all season?
Either side hit the woodwork. Antoine Semenyo received a excessive ball, then collected a return go from Evanilson solely to drill his shot throughout objective and off the upright.
Jarrod Bowen returned the favour after good work from Mohammed Kudus to play within the Hammers skipper. Bowen held the ball up effectively and, with nobody operating previous him in help, curled his effort from vary on to the crossbar.
As is so typically the case with West Ham, once they do one thing good, it’s Bowen on the coronary heart of it. He confirmed fast toes to kill a fizzing ball along with his again to objective, get it out of his toes, flip and unload a fast shot at Kepa.
However the first half had a well-known really feel for Hammers followers as their aspect edged a contest of little high quality, however appeared incapable of profiting from their intervals of stress.
So it was unsurprising that, on the stroke of half-time, Bournemouth practically took the lead.
The spot kick was given after Tyler Adams was adjudged by VAR to have dealt with the ball
The objective stored up Paqueta’s excellent document from the spot and gave the impression to be sufficient for the win
Antoine Semenyo hit the publish within the first half as Bournemouth appeared harmful in assault
However West Ham skipper Jarrod Bowen additionally noticed his beautiful curling effort strike the crossbar
Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski, 40, made a string of sensible saves earlier than the late drama
Andoni Iraola’s aspect rose as much as sixth with the draw as they proceed their spectacular season
Semenyo’s deflected shot dropped to the toes of an unmarked Dango Ouattara on the again publish however he may solely discover the legs of a sprawling Fabianski.
No matter Iraola stated on the break impressed his troops to come back out with impetus. Justin Kluivert, Semenyo and Ryan Christie all pressured saves from Fabianski.
Bournemouth in full circulation, once they transfer the ball rapidly upfield, are a pleasure to observe. Evanilson discovered Kluivert by means of the center, who slung out extensive to Ouattara, who performed it again throughout objective to Semenyo and solely the scrambling form of Max Kilman denied the hosts an opener.
Evanilson drew one other save from Fabianski with a flicked header at a nook and Kluivert rattled one over the bar because the back-and-forth between the 2 sides continued with nobody capable of make the breakthrough.
Fullkrug ought to have received it late on however may solely put his header straight on the keeper.
After which all hell broke unfastened. VAR awarded a penalty, Paqueta scored it, then Unal equalised with a shocking free-kick. Soccer, bloody hell.
