JULEN LOPETEGUI may live to fight another day at West Ham in a weekend of Prem sackings — despite Enes Unal’s late screamer.
Bournemouth’s Turkish forward Unal thumped home a stunning 90th-minute free-kick to cancel out Lucas Paqueta’s penalty — following VAR intervention — moments earlier which looked set to earn the Hammers a huge win.
Under-pressure Hammers boss Lopetegui saw his men allow Cherries 29 shots — their Prem-best — at the Vitality Stadium — but they were giving their all for their Spanish gaffer in a fighting draw at Bournemouth.
After Wolves boss Gary O’Neil and Southampton’s Russell Martin were both sacked on Sunday, Lopetegui was next in the crosshairs.
Meanwhile, the hosts were seeking a club record-equalling fourth Prem straight win to move alongside Manchester City.
Andoni Iraola’s boys are a force to be reckoned with, having seen off Arsenal, City and Tottenham at home in recent weeks.
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But West Ham kept their hosts on the back foot for most of the first half and then defended well in the second when the Cherries woke up.
The Londoners threatened first on four minutes when Vladimir Coufal broke clear but sliced high and wide.
But there was nothing embarrassing about the next two efforts at both ends, which hit the woodwork.
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Antoine Semenyo latched on to Justin Kluivert’s pass and his cross-shot beat West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski and brushed the far post.
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Then Jarrod Bowen side-stepped his marker and curled a delicious left-footed effort on to the home bar. That was a shame for Bowen, who was looking for his 100th League goal in the top four divisions.
Lopetegui may have his critics but his boys were certainly giving it a go against the in-form hosts, with Mohammed Kudus a constant menace.
He may also have known that Bournemouth had failed to beat the Hammers in their previous seven league and cup meetings.
And it was Bowen again who turned smartly before forcing a save out of Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Then it was Carlos Soler who caught the eye when he curled Paqueta’s pass inches wide of the far post.
West Ham were clearly enjoying their night by the sea — and they simply love Monday night football.
They arrived in Dorset having won nine of their last ten matches on the first day of the working week!
And the Hammers went close again when Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross was cleared to Tomas Soucek whose effort was deflected wide.
Then just before the break the visitors had a let-off when Dango Ouattara saw his side-footed effort hit Fabianski’s outstretched leg.
The hosts were on the front foot after the break and Ouattara saw his deflected shot just miss the target.
And by the third minutes of the half, Fabianski was called on to make saves from Kluivert and Semenyo.
Ryan Christie then tried his luck from 20 yards with a hot drive which warmed Fabianski’s hands.
Iraola’s half-time chat had certainly livened up his charges.
They have been on a high after securing 24 points — their highest-ever total after 15 Prem matches.
Semenyo however was next to suffer when he thought his shot was goal-bound only to have it spectacularly blocked by Maximilian Kilman.
The ever-dangerous Kudus fancied his chances when he homed in on the Cherries goal but Illia Zabarnyi denied him with a timely block.
Then Fabianski rescued his team again on 73 minutes when he kept out Evanilson’s deft header.
West Ham were made to fight for their lives in the dying minutes with a number of brave blocks.
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But thought they had won it on 87 minutes when Wan-Bissaka’s cross was handled by Tyler Adams, leaving Paqueta to do the rest from 12 yards.
But Lopetegui and West Ham’s joy was short-lived as Unal, who struck the equaliser at Ipswich last time out, sent home a beauty as the clock struck 90 minutes to send the Cherries up to sixth place.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
