Saha breaks Hammers hearts

Visitors grab three goals in five minutes to seal unlikely win

By Rob Carragher   Last updated: 8th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Saha breaks Hammers hearts

Saha: Mobbed by team-mates

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Everton stole a 3-1 victory over West Ham courtesy of two late strikes from Louis Saha.

West Ham had dominated proceedings for the majority of the game, missing several great opportunities in a thoroughly one-sided first half.

Despite their shortcomings up front, the Hammers finally got the goal that they deserved in the 62nd minute, at which point they looked likely to take all three points.

But, after Saha found Joleon Lescott to head home for the equaliser, the game turned in the away side's favour and within minutes West Ham keeper Robert Green was picking the ball out of the back of his net again when Saha's deflected drive skidded painfully beyond Green and into the bottom corner.

Saha added another just moments later to complete an incredible turnaround which would see The Toffees leave Upton Park with an unlikely 3-1 victory.

Early exchanges

Saha had almost given the visitors the lead in the opening minute but his right-footed volley flashed just wide of Green's left-hand upright.

But the home side responded immediately with Scott Parker bursting through the midfield before unleashing a low 20-yard drive which Tim Howard pushed wide.

But the early exchanges proved to be a false dawn with precious little excitement to warm the crowd on a wet afternoon.

The home side were dealt a blow after 15 minutes when defender Matthew Upson was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury, to be replaced by Jack Collison.

In the 19th minute Green had to be alert to deal with a low cross from Everton captain Phil Neville.

Moments later Freddie Sears almost carved out an opening at the opposite end but the young West Ham striker lost control of the ball at the vital moment.

West Ham defender Herita Ilunga wrestled Victor Anichebe to the ground in the 22nd minute but Mikel Arteta's free-kick from the right flank was easily dealt with.

A counter-attack by the home side seconds later saw Sears put Craig Bellamy clear but the West Ham striker saw his shot deflected for a corner.

The game continue to ebb and flow and Jack Rodwell tried his luck for the visitors in the 23rd minute but his shot rolled harmlessly into the hands of the waiting Green.

Most of West Ham's best moves were inspired by the hard-working Parker but they lacked a killer instinct in attack.

Both Bellamy and Sears had plenty of the ball and when they combined again in the 28th minute, West Ham should have taken the lead.

Sears crossed from the left wing and when Everton's defence only half-cleared the ball, Bellamy sent his 18-yard volley high into the crowd.

The pair were beginning to form a vibrant partnership for the home side and with a bigger slice of luck, Sears would have opened the scoring in the 31st minute.

Bellamy cleverly left Joseph Yobo floundering with a neat dummy on the left edge of the penalty area before delivering the perfect low pass for the onrushing Sears.

However, Sears opted for power over placement and although his shot beat Howard it cannoned off the crossbar.

With two minutes of the first half remaining, Leon Osman was presented with a clear shot at goal from 20 yards but the Everton midfielder could not hit the target.

Opener

In the 56th minute, Rodwell went close for Everton when he hooked his effort just wide of the upright from close range.

Moments later West Ham replaced Luis Boa Morte with winger Matthew Etherington in a bid to give the home side more thrust in attack.

In the 59th minute, the rampaging Bellamy was fouled on the edge of the penalty area by Neville as West Ham increased the tempo of the game.

However, Bellamy's subsequent free-kick was charged down by Everton's defensive wall.

But West Ham did break the deadlock in the 63rd minute through substitute Collison.

The goal was superbly set-up by a brilliant piece of individual skill from Parker who backheeled the ball into the path of the home debutant.

With Everton's defence completely wrong-footed by Parker's brilliance, Collison took his time to curl the ball into the top corner.

It was a memorable goal for the youngster who had never played at home for the first team until Upson's first-half injury presented him with the opportunity.

Fightback

The home side seemed to be in full control and were threatening to increase their advantage, with the pace of Sears and Bellamy a constant threat to the visitors.

But Everton conjured up an amazing fightback in the last 10 minutes when Lescott planted a firm header beyond Green for the leveller in the 83rd minute.

Worse was to follow for West Ham when a cross from Anichebe was fired home by Saha, with a slight deflection on his shot taking the ball past Green.

The former Manchester United striker then repeated the feat, with a powerful low 20-yard shot bouncing past Green in the 87th minute to leave West Ham floored.

West Ham UnitedTeam StatisticsEverton
1Goals3
01st Half Goals0
5Shots on Target5
3Shots off Target8
9Blocked Shots4
9Corners4
10Fouls10
1Offsides0
1Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
77.8Passing Success66.6
20Tackles19
65Tackles Success68.4
57.8Possession42.2
51.5Territorial Advantage48.5
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Comments (5)

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Christopher Gardner (West Ham United fan) says...

Zola has to go ,he is even worse than Curbs ,we need a manager with a bit of steel and that wants to win games , Its ok saying give him a couple of years but we havent got a coupl of years. We will be fighting relagation yet again ,unless we change the manager now!!!!!.

Posted 18:10 8th November 2008

Old Evertonian (Everton fan) says...

Where is the fire? Where is the passion? Where is the pride? We have a lot of empty royal blue shirts turning up this season....shameful display until the Houdini act at the end. If you can't get fired up after getting past the woeful start to the season, what will it take? Way, way lucky today....where are the leaders on this team?

Posted 18:04 8th November 2008

Jennifer Boyle (Everton fan) says...

Well done blues. It just to goes to show that you dont have to play well to win games. Liverpool have been doing it for years.

Posted 17:59 8th November 2008

Adam Fitzsimmons (Everton fan) says...

Absoloutly brilliant fightback , showed great character to fight back and win with 10 mins to go , out played for an hoUr , maybe more , but 3 points away from home in london will do just fine .. COYB!!

Posted 17:41 8th November 2008

Liz Larkin (West Ham United fan) says...

i must say as a hammers fan i am getting very concerned how we keep dropping points i mean 1 point from 18 is something to worry about i know we have a few injuries but we also have some class players ,what is going on at upton park why are questions not being asked ?

Posted 17:26 8th November 2008
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