BONNA FIDE WINNER
Angelo flies in to grab the points and take Hammers up to fifth spot
ANGELO OGBONNA headed home a second goal in three games as West Ham came from behind to beat Leeds at Elland Road.
Victory for David Moyes’ Hammers came late in a thoroughly entertaining encounter and moved them into fifth place ahead of today’s matches.
Just once in 26 previous occasions after going behind have West Ham left with three points. But after Mateusz Klich’s penalty and Tom as Sou ce k’ s first-half header cancelled each other out, Ogbonna’s powerful 80 th-minute header sunk a spirited Leeds.
Leeds had been without a win in four at El land Road while Moyes’ men have given up eight points from winning positions already this season – a fact that made their position in the table all the more credit able if frustrating.
After a dazzling start, the realisation there are no points for artistic impression has led to some more workmanlike displays for the hosts.
Yet even with a less swashbuckling style they still commit forward quickly and got off to the perfect start here, albeit with VA R’ s help, Klich converting from the spot at the second attempt.
There was no need f or Stockley Park’s intervention to award a penalty in the first minute, Patrick Bamford brought down by Lukasz Fabianski after being rounded following a lovely throughball from Liam Cooper.
But after a dreadful first attempt was easily saved by the Hammers keeper, Michael Oliver was informed he had inched off his line before the ball was kicked.
It was a marginal decision – a matter of an inch or two perhaps–but given the chance again, Klich buried it the other way.
West Ham have got used to taking the lead this season, opening the scoring in their last six league outings before last night. But they proved resilient despite going behind and were level after 23 minutes after a howler from Leeds keeper Illan Meslier.
Jarrod Bowen ( inset) had won a corner on the right f lank and his ball to the far post was met with a firm but far- from- unstoppable header from Soucek rising above Stuart Dallas.
The connection was decent, but it was straight at Me slier, whose airy waft failed to stop it going across the line.
After the break, West Ham started to cause Leeds m more problems. Bow Bowen had been a constant threat on the right side and Said Benrahma was a waspish presence just behind lone striker Sebastien Haller. But collectively they struggled to trouble Meslier further.
Marcelo Bi elsa made a couple of changes at halftime, bringing on Held er Costa and Jamie Shack leton and they started brightly, Bamford having a decent turn and shot within minutes.
At the other end, Haller was denied by a crucial block from Luke Ayling after bringing a cross from Bowen down on his chest and firing from seven yards out.
Pablo Fornals let the ball run across his body in the 70th minute to get space beautifully, only to hook his shot narrowly wide.
Then Meslier redeemed himself with a superb point-blanks top from Fabian Balbuena’s header.
But Ogbonna provided the winner, rocketing home Aaron Cresswell’s free- kick delivery from the left side.