Debut Goal Ignites West Ham's Epic 3-1 Win over Brighton

 Debut Goal Ignites West Ham's Epic 3-1 Win over Brighton

Debut Goal Ignites West Ham's Epic 3-1 Win over Brighton((Image-Getty)

James Ward-Prowse scored his inaugural goal for West Ham United in a commanding 3-1 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League. The match witnessed an impressive display from West Ham, with Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio each securing goals during the second half, propelling them to the top of the league standings on the Saturday fixture.

Despite Brighton's early domination of possession and a staggering 26 goal attempts, West Ham capitalized efficiently on their limited possession to secure the win. The opening moments of the game saw Antonio's first on-target effort in the sixth minute, connecting perfectly with a skillfully angled pass from Lucas Paqueta. However, his shot lacked the necessary power and was easily thwarted by debutant Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

Verbruggen's clean sheet remained intact only for 19 minutes. Antonio capitalized on a poorly executed back-pass by Adam Webster, deftly setting up Ward-Prowse, who managed to find the net on his second attempt. This marked Ward-Prowse's first goal for the club since his transfer from Southampton in August and his 50th overall in the Premier League.

Bowen further extended West Ham's lead in the 58th minute. He expertly controlled a magnificent cross-field pass delivered by Said Benrahma before deftly slotting the ball home near the far post. Excelling in his role as the lone striker, Antonio demonstrated his prowess by driving in a low shot just five minutes later, securing a 3-0 lead. However, Brighton managed to claw back a goal in the 81st minute when Pascal Gross unleashed a precise low shot into the far corner, narrowing the gap to 3-1.

In the latter stages of the match, Brighton pressed on with several opportunities, but West Ham's goalkeeper Alphonse Areola exhibited exceptional saves, allowing the Hammers to clinch their first-ever Premier League victory over Brighton after 13 attempts.

The win elevated West Ham to the top of the standings, sharing seven points with Tottenham and Arsenal, while Brighton slipped to fourth place with six points. Michail Antonio expressed his elation at his team's triumph, acknowledging the numerous crosses and chances Brighton created. He credited their victory to seizing the opportunities that came their way.

On the other side, Brighton's coach, Roberto De Zerbi, acknowledged that the first goal disrupted their rhythm. He noted that despite their 25 shots on goal, they were unable to find the net. He lamented how the second goal came from a counter-attack after a period of sustained pressure from his team.