West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice was full of pride in his virtual team-mates after they overcame Mason Mount’s Chelsea in a thrilling FIFA 20 match on Monday evening.
Amidst the COVID-19 lockdown, the Young Hammer of the Year gave the Claret and Blue Army a result to cheer with a 3-2 win on the night, playing some exciting attacking FIFA in an impressive display at the simulated London Stadium.
The 21-year-old beat out close friend and England team-mate Mount a day after the corresponding Premier League fixture between West Ham and Chelsea was originally scheduled to be played.
Watch again: Declan Rice (WHU) 3-2 Mason Mount (CHE)
Rice's early intent was duly rewarded inside the first quarter-of-an-hour when Michail Antonio’s darting run into the box saw him on the receiving end of a late Kurt Zouma challenge, the Frenchman seeing red for the tackle – and, crucially, Jarrod Bowen converting from the spot.
Everything went right tonight! I was disappointed to concede two sloppy goals, but at the other end, I should have had about eight!
Declan Rice
Rice’s Hammers were unlucky not to double their lead before 45 minutes, before Mount’s Chelsea snatched an equaliser against the run of play when Olivier Giroud capitalised on a defensive mix-up on the stroke of half-time.
Yet Rice was not deterred, and stormed into a two-goal advantage through a clinical Antonio brace midway through the second half, ensuring Giroud’s late second merely proved a consolation.
“Everything went right tonight!” Rice told whufc.com. “I was disappointed to concede two sloppy goals, but at the other end, I should have had about eight!”
The 21-year-old set out his side with plenty of attacking talent from the off, and was duly rewarded with a crucial early advantage in terms of both numbers and scoreline, affording him the chance to manage the game throughout.
“My tactics worked perfectly on the night,” he explained. “[Tomas] Soucek, in particular, was my Man of the Match. He was an absolute beast in the middle alongside Rice – they ran the midfield.
"I’m proud of all the lads tonight!”
As for his opposition, Rice was understandably delighted to get one over his childhood friend this time around, saying: “I think Mace will need to see where he goes from here... I’m just looking for bigger and better challenges now!”
Having given West Ham fans an evening to enjoy during the unprecedented circumstances of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, Rice concluded by urging everybody to continue to act in accordance with government advice.
He said: “I hope everyone enjoyed the game as much as I did - and please remember: stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives."
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