WEST HAM 2 Antonio (5, 33) WATFORD 4
Ighalo (42), Deeney (45), Capoue (53), Holebas (64). WATFORD completed a remarkable comeback aided by comedy defending from West Ham after firing four unanswered goals in a thrilling victory.
Michail Antonio and Dimitri Payet combined to give the Hammers a comfortable lead, only for Walter Mazzarri’s men to spring into action on an afternoon of high drama at London Stadium.
Odion Ighalo, Troy Deeney, Etienne Capoue and Jose Holebas were on target as the home defence fell apart and, but for a little more accuracy in the final 10 minutes, Watford could have won by more.
The first half alone produced four goals, Antonio plundering two of them as West Ham seized a 2-0 lead that owed much to the vision of midfielder Payet.
Payet, starting his first match of the season after recovering from a thigh problem, provided the corner for Antonio’s first before delivering a stunning cross for his second.
Almost as captivating was Deeney’s lob of goalkeeper Adrian in first-half injury-time that enabled Watford to enter halftime all-square and West Ham’s fretful back four never recovered.
A 56,974 crowd at London Stadium was brought to its feet right from the start as West Ham grabbed a fifthminute lead when Antonio headed home a corner by Payet.
Antonio and Payet had already forced smart early saves from Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes, who then watched in horror as an inexplicable back pass from short range by Daryl Janmaat struck the left post.
Chances were also falling at the other end, however, with Ighalo at fault for missing one before Adrian came to West Ham’s rescue for the
second. Payet then produced a moment of magic that enabled West Ham to extend their lead, using his footwork to torment Watford’s defence before executing a cross to the far post.
Antonio needed to time his run correctly and he did exactly that, ghosting clear of his marker to nod home.
The thrills continued when Watford reduced the deficit five minutes before the interval with Ighalo stabbing home a shot that deflected off James Collins.
And there was still time in a dramatic first half for the visitors to snatch an equaliser through Deeney.
West Ham’s crumbling defence then allowed Capoue to rifle the ball home from close range before Holebas drilled a pass by Ighalo into the back of the net.