LAST UPDATE | 4 Jan 2018
PEDRO OBIANG AND Son Heung-min netted a scorcher apiece as West Ham’s resurgence continued with a hard-earned 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Wembley.
With West Ham yet to produce a shot by the 70th minute (indeed, they hadn’t registered a touch of the ball in Spurs’ box by this juncture), Manuel Lanzini laid the ball to Obiang in the left channel some 40-odd yards from Hugo Lloris’ goal.
They didn’t need a touch in the penalty area: Obiang turned inside and rifled a stunning drive into the top left-hand corner to give his side the lead.
The goal-of-the-season contender was just the 25-year-old Spaniard’s third goal for the club.
14 minutes later, Mauricio Pochettino’s side were level through Son, whose thunderbolt from a not dissimilar distance found the opposite corner of Adrián’s goal.
A monumental rearguard action by David Moyes’ men was then summed up succinctly within the space of 30 seconds as Victor Wanyama, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Son all had goalbound strikes blocked by flailing defenders.
West Ham have now picked up 12 points from a possible 21 in a run which has seen them take at least a share of the spoils from London rivals Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs.
The hosts’ run of three straight emphatic victories since a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City comes to an end in spite of their best efforts: Spurs had registered 20 shots before Obiang broke the deadlock with the visitors’ first.
They finished the game with 31 but just eight on target, while Obiang’s strike was one of two shots on goal from West Ham’s grand total of three.
Irish underage international defender Declan Rice, who earned a rave review from West Ham legend Joe Cole in the Sky Sports studio pre-game, stood out once more with a hugely accomplished display.
The London-born 18-year-old has represented Ireland at U16, U17, U19 and U21 level but is yet to be capped by Martin O’Neill.
Rice, whose grandparents hail from Cork, was later voted the club’s man of the match by West Ham supporters, while Angelo Ogbonna took the official honours.
Declan Rice.
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) January 4, 2018
18 years old.
Man of the match.
👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/NhlflOcdCJ
And remarkably, for all of Spurs’ dominance, West Ham could have nicked it were it not for Hugo Lloris, who saved low late on from André Ayew.
In a forgettable encounter ignited by two wonderstrikes, defeat would have been torturous for Tottenham, while West Ham move two points clear of Stoke and the relegation zone which seemed intent on calling their name earlier in the campaign.
“To come here and get a point after what we did two days ago [a 2-1 win over West Brom] is a great effort,” said David Moyes.
“We have scored a goal and so have they – they can have as many shots as they like. It was a great finish from Obiang, unexpected. He struck it brilliantly well.
“We’re miles away from how I want us to play but we are doing some things right. We are defending well which gives us a chance against the top teams. I want the players to look up the table.
“We need a lot in the transfer window but if I can get one or two I’ll be happy.”
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
What a finish by the ox. World class
@Yorkie1892: world class?
@Hon Tipp: world class finish.
@Yorkie1892: ah ok
Loserpool
@Joe Shea: Yeah they’re only the reigning champions. Real losers…
@Joe Shea: tosser
@Joe Shea: Well done Joe, did you come up with that one yourself? I’d say you’ll go far.
@Joe Shea: JOE DON’T JOKE ABOUT LIVERPOOL COS 6 TIMES AND 18 LEAGUE TITLES AND AND AND YNWA LOSERPOOL MORE LIKE WINNERPOOL AM I RIGHT LADS YNWAAAAAA
2 great goals from the Ox. Great to see him finding his form.
City west drama video here https://youtu.be/KtOeI8DE1JE
@Happy entertainment: since comments are closed on it I put video here
@Happy entertainment: youd swear it was downtown Lagos..
@Happy entertainment: I’d stay well clear of buying anywhere in Dublin with the prices haha.
Internazionale against Borussia Dortmund, a massive game, is on. But you’re covering Genk v Liverpool? Are we European or English?
@Philip Farrell: why even pose the question? The 42 is a business. This coverage will get more views and comments (including your one).
@Philip Farrell: Both red teams always get their own match blog here! Even the one that nobody admits to following any more!
@Philip Farrell: last time I checked both Liverpool and Genk were also European.
@The Bloody Nine: No Liverpool are a British football club in the north west of England.
@Philip Farrell: you do understand the basic economics of any business yes?? You know supply v demand and all that, same principles apply in this kinda of media outlet…regardless of what other games are on, Liverpool and UTD matches will always garner 50x more interest among Irish people. Also dont get the Europe reference, fairly certain Liverpool and Gent are in Europe. It is a European competition after all…
@Alan Brazil: and Genk is a football club located in the north-east of Belgium… both part of Europe.
@The Bloody Nine: Yes, you must be British and European and from Liverpool if you support them then.
@Alan Brazil: cold under that bridge tonight Al?
@Alan Brazil: you can be from anywhere and support whoever, Alan.
@Alan Brazil: and you are a lovely chap from a country in the north of Great Britain. :)
@Alan Brazil: and that’s not in Europe…I’ve seen it all now!!!!!!!!!!!
@Seaniecp: Yep, because Paddy is a Brit, not a European
Wow! Some goal in the RB Leipzig game!
Dont care much for Liverpool but what a goal by Chamberlin. That was ridiculous technique.
@Ottomaaan: Ridiculous? No need to be derisory about it. I think it was a fantastic finish myself- far from ridiculous. ( …as I slink off now, having aired my pedantic fury at the bizarre new-age approach with the social media generation of using “ridiculous” in a complimentary context. Along with “sick”, as also a popular alternative. I reckon we’re only one step away from someone saying “that goal was pure leukaemia” or some such nonsense…lol)
@David O Callaghan: thought you said you weren’t going to watch anymore soccer
@David O Callaghan: jesus David sit down and have a beer will you…
Who in VAR decides on the split second to press the button to decide on offside. It is a complete joke to see that Genk goal disallowed.
@Sheila Teehan: was it offside?
@Sheila Teehan: You’re right. All offside goals should be allowed.
Arbeitsseig as Jürgen put it..workman like performance..didn’t start like this…at least he focused in on the main problem and that was the sloppy loss of possession which was the only launch strategy Genk had. Whilst I like some of the clever touches by Firmino, Keita and Mane, it is by these transitions that will eventually undo Liverpool to more clinical sides. They are the most difficult to defend against…Klopp said it..we ALL know it. The conundrum Liverpool have is in trying to be more direct without overusing the ‘clever’ flicks. I was more impressed with Chelsea’s performance in Amsterdam…just being honest…