West Ham United 3-1 Leeds United
Premier League, London Stadium, Sunday 21 May 2023
Goals from captain Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini concluded West Ham United’s 2022/23 home campaign with a spirited, and deserved, comeback 3-1 win over Leeds United.
Rodrigo had given Sam Allardyce’s side a warranted lead early on at London Stadium, volleying home Weston McKennie’s long throw, but the opening finish fired the Hammers into life.
A wonderful team move led to the leveller on 32 minutes as Rice scored his sixth goal of the season in all competitions, calmly volleying in Bowen’s cross, before Bowen himself struck from a narrow angle on 72 minutes.
Substitute Manuel Lanzini completed the fight back with a lovely finish late on, netting West Ham’s third and ensuring the home campaign ended with a merited three points.
Results elsewhere in the Premier League on Saturday had confirmed West Ham’s status in the top flight ahead of kick-off on Sunday, but Leeds’ own position was still precarious as the action kicked off at London Stadium.
It showed in the opening exchanges too as the visitors went on the early offensive. Łukasz Fabiański had to be on form early in the game to deny Jack Harrison’s volleyed effort.
Aside from Danny Ings’ wild swing, the pressure was completely from Leeds in the opening 20 minutes and the away side got their reward for the fast start on 17 minutes. American midfielder McKennie’s long throw-in was deep into the West Ham box and no one tracked the run of Rodrigo, who volleyed into the corner from around 12 yards.
After the disappointment of the opening proceedings, West Ham were spurred into life by Leeds’ opener. A series of Bowen corners caused havoc in the Leeds’ penalty area, as Joel Robles and his defenders failed to comfortably deal with the set-plays.
Tomáš Souček came closest when he met Ings’ looping header back into a dangerous area, only for Robles to close the angle and deny the midfielder.
Captain Rice had been crowned the Betway Hammer of the Year for 2022/23 prior to kick-off and, on the sixth anniversary of his Claret and Blue debut as a 17-year-old, the midfielder was eager to find the net. He would do so with sublime leveller on 32 minutes.
It was, in truth, a gorgeous West Ham move from the back that concluded as Pablo Fornals delightfully dinked the ball into Bowen’s path. The winger found Rice at the back post, and the skipper made no mistake with his cleverly taken finish, volleying into the London Stadium turf, past Robles and into the net.
Lucas Paquetá had the Claret and Blue Army waiting in anticipation as a cleared cross fell favourably for him in added time. The Brazilian delivered a terrifically-struck volley that had Robles motionless but flew over the bar in the final action of the first half.
It was the midfield maestro who had the first effort of the second half too, collecting the ball around 25 yards from goal and unleashing a curling strike which stung the palms of Spaniard Robles.
Bowen tried his luck from a narrow angle, only to be ruled offside, before the No20’s unfortunate position seemed to deny Ings a goal; the striker’s attempt striking his teammate. Souček’s header into the ground also had to be tipped over.
All the possession and pressure was coming from West Ham though and, 18 minutes from time, the Irons took a deserved lead.
Paquetá's pass found Ings, who turned and cleverly threaded through the lines to find Bowen. The 26-year-old poked a shot goalbound that, despite hitting Robles on the underside of the arm, found the bottom corner. A VAR check confirmed Bowen was onside, and the Hammers had come back to claim the advantage.
For all of West Ham’s domination in the second half, Leeds went close to finding a leveller on 85 minutes. A ball over the top found the pacey Crysencio Summerville, who tried to go around Fabiański. Emerson was back to block the winger’s attempt, keeping the home side in front.
But the result was secured late on with a sensational piece of play from Paquetá. The No11’s quick feet allowed him to dance into the penalty area, where he found substitute Lanzini. The Argentinian Jewel confidently slammed home to wrap up the victory, prompting scenes of pure jubilation from the Claret and Blue Army.
West Ham United: Fabiański, Coufal, Zouma (Kehrer 46), Ogbonna, Emerson, Souček, Rice ©, Bowen (Lanzini 84), Paquetá, Fornals (Johnson 90+2), Ings (Mubama 90+3)
Subs not used: Areola (GK), Cresswell, Benrahma, Cornet, Antonio
Goals: Rice 32, Bowen 72, Lanzini 90+4
Booked: Paqueta
Leeds United: Robles, Ayling ©, Koch, Kristensen, Wöber, Struijk (Greenwood 84), McKennie (Roca 84), Forshaw (Aaronson 62), Harrison (Summerville 62), Bamford (Gnonto 34), Rodrigo
Subs not used: Meslier (GK), Cooper, Rutter, Chilokoa-Mullen
Goals: Rodrigo 17
Booked: Summerville
Referee: Peter Bankes
Attendance: 62,478
