West Ham win a ‘special’ game for Perez
London: Manager Manuel Pellegrini described West Ham’s 3-1 Premier League victory over Cardiff as a “special” game for Lucas Perez after he came off the bench to score twice at London Stadium. Perez, who replaced the injured Marko Arnautovic in the first half, struck twice in five minutes early in the second.
He had not played more than 27 minutes in a league game since joining for a reported £4m from Arsenal in August.
“I don’t think he must prove anything. We know why we brought him here,” said Pellegrini.
“Lucas played very well. There are many reasons why players don’t play but it’s important for them to take their chance.” West Ham improving game by game - Pellegrini
After Perez’s double, Michail Antonio headed a third for West Ham, and Josh Murphy bundled in a consolation for Cardiff with the last touch of the game. Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski saved a first-half penalty from Joe Ralls with the score 0-0.
West Ham moved up to 12th in the table, while Neil Warnock’s Cardiff have taken only one point from seven away games this season and sit two points above the relegation zone. West Ham were in control throughout, with Cardiff keeper Neil Etheridge denying Angelo Ogbonna, Declan Rice and Arnautovic in the first half-hour.
Aside from Ralls’ penalty, Fabianski was rarely tested, while the hosts continued to pepper Cardiff’s goal as Rice, Ogbonna and Grady Diangana went close.
Perez scored his first league goal in 700 days following some sloppy Cardiff defending and a clever chip by Robert Snodgrass, and added a second when played in on the left-hand side of the penalty area by Arthur Masuaku.
Cardiff’s 95th-minute goal came when Fabianski flapped at a corner and his defenders failed to clear.