Everton 1 Hammers 3
Hammers stage late late show to beat Everton
West Ham put on a late late show with goals from Tomas Soucek and Edson Alvarez to take the points but Alphonse Areola was probably the hero with a saved penalty and string of magnificent saves.
To quote the oldest cliche in football it really was a game of two halves with the Hammers at their best after the interval but were grateful to the magnificent Hammers keeper and came from behind to win their second successive game.
A shot shy first half which saw the Hammers abandon the attacking game that had served them well against Brentford sparked into life when Alphonse Areola save a penalty in the 43rd minute.
Hammers stage late late show to beat Everton
The ball had struck Zouma’s arm but VAR over-ruled the ref’s decision not to award a spot kick and diving well to his left the Hammers keeper produced a fine save from Beto.
The Everton striker had been responsible for the first shot of the game in the sixth minute when his shot sailed wide before Alvarez saw a shot from distance beaten away by Pickford
Mavropanos was the next to miss out heading wide from James Ward-Prowse’s good ball into the box,
But halfway through the first half a fine Everton move through the middle saw Beto again thwarted by Areola from close range.
Everything changed in the second half when after 10 minutes The Toffees took the lead when a superb cross from Garner was headed home by the central striker.
It might have been two within minutes but Areola saved brilliantly from McNeil six-yards out but the Hammers keeper scrambled to get in the way and somehow kept it out!
But the Hammers were level in the 62nd minute when Zouma rose to nod home a fabulous James Ward-Prowse corner.
Areola had to be his best he clawed away a deflected shot before Soucek was on hand to clear off the line from Doucoure. Areola was in top form again saving well from Calvert Lewin who had appeared as a second half sub.
But there was one almighty twist in the tale when Kudus fired in an overhit cross and Soucek – adjusting himself and position fired a brilliant angled shot past Pickford.
And in the final minute the Hammers counter attacked from a poor corner and Bowen broke to feedd Alvarez who finished well.