West Ham United and Bournemouth played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the London Stadium on Saturday, extending both sides’ winless runs in the Premier League. The result saw both teams forced to share the spoils in a back-and-forth encounter.
Following a narrow midweek defeat to Wolves, West Ham started the match struggling to create clear-cut chances despite dominating possession in the opening stages. Bournemouth, who suffered a shock loss to Ipswich in their previous outing, also appeared somewhat subdued in the first half, with very few shots registered on target.
Just as it seemed the first half would end goalless, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo forced an error from West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. The Spaniard spilled Semenyo’s shot, allowing Evanilson to pounce and tap in his fifth goal in six appearances across all competitions, giving the away side a late lead in the first half. Before the whistle blew, Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi headed onto the crossbar from a corner, a sign of their growing control.
However, West Ham came out with renewed purpose in the second half, particularly after the introduction of Niclas Fullkrug from the bench. The German striker made an immediate impact, heading home powerfully from a James Ward-Prowse corner delivery, marking his first goal since January and bringing the Hammers level. 1 �
The momentum had now swung firmly in favour of the hosts. Just seven minutes later, they took the lead when Jarrod Bowen rose highest to nod in a clipped cross from Mohammed Kudus. The game had completely opened up in stark contrast to the first half.
Bournemouth, however, responded swiftly. Just eleven minutes after going behind, they equalised through Evanilson again. The striker prodded the ball home at the far post after a towering header from Dean Huijsen.
The final stages of the match were thrilling, with both teams pushing for a winner, but ultimately, neither side could find the decisive goal.
This draw means West Ham are now winless in their last four league matches (D2, L2), a run that will likely disappoint manager Graham Potter, who took over in January. While a 15-point gap above the relegation zone means their Premier League status is secure, their current position in 15th place is a far cry from their success as the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League winners.
For Bournemouth, this marks their sixth consecutive league game without a win (D2, L4). The dropped points will be a blow to their aspirations of qualifying for European competition next season, as they currently sit in ninth place.
