Mohammed Kudus’s first goal for West Ham United secured a dramatic 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Ghanaian ‘Starboy’ rose from the substitutes’ bench to control Vladimír Coufal’s pass and send an unstoppable, bouncing drive past Nick Pope to grab a point for the Club he joined from Ajax in August.
It had appeared West Ham’s inability to hold onto a Premier League lead would cost them again as Newcastle came from a goal down to lead, but, with his popstar friend Stonebwoy watching on, Kudus ensured his new team would grab a share of the spoils and keep themselves above the Magpies in the table.
Tomáš Souček had put the Hammers into the lead inside eight minutes, but two Alexander Isak goals in quick succession either side of the hour mark appeared to turn a potentially impressive victory into a disappointing defeat, before Kudus’s intervention grabbed a satisfying draw.
The first half, for wont of a better comparison, resembled a bout between two of the Premier League’s heavyweights, standing toe-to-toe and doing everything they could to prevent the other landing a telling blow.
In the Claret and Blue corner, West Ham kept their guard up throughout, inviting their black and white-clad opponents on without allowing them to land anything meaningful, and landing a devastating counter-punch of their own.
Nayef Aguerd’s ball out found Michail Antonio, who held up play before laying back for Lucas Paquetá. His lofted pass found Emerson rampaging into space behind Kieran Trippier and the Italian rounded goalkeeper Nick Pope, squared for Tomáš Souček and the Czech gleefully smashed the ball into unguarded net.
It was the first goal Newcastle had conceded in 298 minutes of Premier League football dating back to 2 September and, having gone a goal down, the Magpies could have been a man down too.
Bruno Guimarães had been booked for a foul on Emerson when he brought down James Ward-Prowse less than two minutes later, but referee Peter Bankes opted not to show the Brazilian a second yellow card.
Reprieved, Newcastle continued to be frustrated by David Moyes’ side, who closed down space and, at times, pressed high in a bid to stifle their opponents, resulting in just two headers past the post and a long-range Miguel Almirón shot that flew high and wide.
Into the second half and, after Edson Álvarez had sent a diving header past the post from Ward-Prowse’s clever corner, Newcastle gained the upper hand with a devastating one-two from Isak.
Alphonse Areola made a fantastic diving save to keep out Dan Burn’s header, but he was powerless to stop the Swede.
Another debatable decision from referee Bankes was followed by Newcastle’s equaliser moments later. The official deemed Paquetá had fouled Sandro Tonali and from Trippier’s resulting free-kick, Álvarez could only head the ball to Isak, who controlled and fired high past the advancing goalkeeper.
Five minutes later, Isak put Newcastle in front, diverting Trippier’s volleyed cross inside the far post to flatten the home side and supporters inside London Stadium.
West Ham, who had looked rock solid before the break, were on the ropes, and Isak went within inches of a quickfire hat-trick when he rounded Areola but shot against the base of the post.
Moyes sent on Mohammed Kudus and Saïd Benrahma with 15 minutes to play and, after Ward-Prowse had curled a free-kick over the crossbar, the Hammers launched a late assault that was rewarded with the Ghana forward’s dramatic leveller.
West Ham United: Areola, Coufal, Zouma ©, Aguerd, Emerson, Álvarez, Souček (Kudus 76), Ward-Prowse, Paquetá, Bowen, Antonio (Benrahma 75)
Subs not used: Anang (GK), Kehrer, Ogbonna, Fornals, Cornet, Ings, Mubama
Goals: Souček 8, Kudus 89
Booked: Emerson, Antonio, Paquetá
Newcastle United: Pope, Trippier, Schär, Lascelles ©, Burn, Tonali, Longstaff, Guimarāes, Almirón (Murphy 82), Anderson (Targett 90+3), Isak (Wilson 85)
Subs not used: Dúbravka (GK), Dummett, Livramento, Hall, Manquillo, Ritchie
Goals: Isak 57, 62
Booked: Guimarāes, Almirón, Longstaff
Referee: Peter Bankes
Attendance: 62,473