West Ham vs Bournemouth Report

Scorers: Fullkrug 61’, Bowen 68’; Evanilson 38’, 79’

West Ham United and Bournemouth shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the London Stadium, with Evanilson’s brace securing a valuable away point for the Cherries in a match that came to life after a drab first half.

The result extends both sides’ winless streaks and leaves their European ambitions hanging in the balance.

First Half: Little Spark Until Late Flurry

Both sides entered the match desperate to return to winning ways. West Ham, smarting from a narrow defeat to Wolves in midweek, began cautiously, dominating possession but failing to produce meaningful chances.

Bournemouth, who had been stunned by a 2-1 loss to Ipswich in their previous outing, were similarly reserved — perhaps still reeling from their recent drop in form.

With only three shots registered in the first 30 minutes, the first half looked destined to end goalless. However, Antoine Semenyo’s low drive forced a fumble from Alphonse Areola, allowing Evanilson to pounce and score his fifth goal in six games across all competitions, giving the visitors a surprise lead.

Bournemouth could have doubled their advantage just before the break, as Illia Zabarnyi’s header struck the crossbar from a corner, capping off a strong end to an otherwise uneventful half.

Second Half: A Match Transformed

After a sluggish start, the game sparked into life following the introduction of Niclas Füllkrug. The German forward made an instant impact, powering home a header from a James Ward-Prowse corner to draw West Ham level — his first goal since January.

Buoyed by the equaliser, the Hammers pressed forward with renewed intensity. Within seven minutes, they had turned the game around, as Jarrod Bowen rose highest to head in Mohammed Kudus’s deft cross, completing the comeback and sending the home crowd into raptures.

But Bournemouth were far from finished. With the hosts failing to fully capitalise on their momentum, the Cherries found their way back into the contest.

Dean Huijsen’s aerial dominance allowed him to nod a cross down into the path of Evanilson, who prodded home at the far post for his second of the night, ensuring a share of the points.

What It Means: Points Shared, Problems Persist

• West Ham’s winless run now stretches to four (D2, L2), with Graham Potter still struggling to ignite a resurgence since his appointment in January.
• A 15-point cushion from the relegation zone means the Hammers are not in immediate danger, but a current position of 15th is well below the standards of a side that lifted the UEFA Europa Conference League just last season.
• Bournemouth, now winless in six Premier League matches (D2, L4), sit in ninth, but their European dream continues to fade, with dropped points piling up in crucial moments.

Key Stats

• Evanilson has now scored six goals in his last seven appearances
• Füllkrug scored his first goal since January
• Bowen netted his 13th league goal of the season
• Both teams had just one shot on target in the first half
• Bournemouth have conceded at least two goals in five of their last six games

Looking Ahead

• West Ham must find answers quickly, with upcoming fixtures offering limited room for error as Graham Potter continues to search for a settled formula.
• Bournemouth will be encouraged by their attacking threat but need to rediscover the solidity that saw them surge earlier this season if they are to keep their European hopes alive.

This may have been an entertaining spectacle, but it leaves both sides frustrated and aware that they are slipping away from their respective ambitions.

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West Ham v Bournemouth, 2024/25 | Premier League