Everton 1-3 West Ham: Hammers net twice in stoppage time to stay in European spots

With Newcastle United breathing down their necks in the race for European qualification, West Ham ventured to Everton’s Goodison Park. The home spirit on Merseyside was one of optimism, after the Toffees were handed back four points following an appeal into their prior ten-point deduction.

EVE: Pickford; Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Godfrey; McNeil, Garner, Onana, Harrison; Doucoure; Beto

WHU: Areola; Emerson, Zouma, Mavropanos, Coufal; Álvarez, Soucek; Paquetá, Ward-Prowse, Kudus; Bowen

The Toffees looked destined to take the lead when they were awarded their first Premier League penalty of the season in the first half, after VAR found that Kurt Zouma was found to have handled the ball inside his own penalty area.

But Beto’s effort from the spot was remarkably poor, and Hammers’ shotstopper Alphonse Areola was able to make an easy dive to his left to deny Sean Dyche’s side taking the lead just before the break.

He made amends for that miss just over ten minutes into the second half though, opening the scoring as he latched onto a deep cross from James Garner – but their lead would last just five minutes before Zouma sought to atone for the penalty he conceded, heading home from a corner to restore parity on the hour mark.

With the match seemingly destined for a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park, Tomas Soucek netted a stunning half-volley as the clock ticked over into injury time. That would not be the end of the goalscoring action though, as Edson Alvarez netted too to confirm a thrilling victory that keeps West Ham in the European qualification spots.

The Hammers now sit seventh in the Premier League, while Everton remain five points clear of the relegation zone – albeit in desperate need of a way to bring their winless streak that dates back to December to an end.

West Ham United face SC Freiburg on Thursday in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League round-of-sixteen tie, before hosting Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday. Everton are next in action on Saturday, as they travel to Old Trafford for a 12:30 GMT kickoff.