Tiny bubbles filled London Stadium on Saturday after the West Ham United Hammers, a 3-1 underdog, easily disposed of the Red Devils from Manchester United in impressive fashion. The loss for Manchester and manager Jose Mourinho put the Devils in eighth in the EPL standings with the possibility of falling further after this week's matches are completed.
The win for the Hammers continues their unpredictable and sudden rise in the standings, going from dead last with 0 points in the league three weeks ago to now sitting in 12th with 7 points. With an upcoming match against Brighton on October 5, the Hammers have a realistic chance to move into the top 10.
Quick Game Summary
The action started quickly as Zabaleta completed a beautiful cross right in front of the box for Felipe Anderson who scored his first goal of the season in the 5th minute.
The good times kept rolling as Yarmolenko's shot was deflected by a defender into the net, giving West Ham a 2-0 lead going into the half. Rashford brought Man U. back into the game with one of the prettiest goals I've seen all season in the 71st minute. That hope disappeared quickly when Arnautovic slipped past the defense to put West Ham ahead for good 3-1. The announcer commented that the Red Devil defense looked like "statues," and also uttered my favorite phrase from the match -- "Manchester United undressed."
⚽Reaction⚽
West Ham has defeated Manchester United! What a wonderful statement to be able to make. I did predict that West Ham would defeat Manchester United, but I still didn't really expect to see it happen. The feeling I have right now is not something I ever thought I would have for a soccer team, especially after adopting West Ham as my EPL team a couple of months ago thanks to your help choosing a team here on Scorum.
This was not a close match despite the game looking very balanced in terms of statistics. Without the goal count, this looks like an even match with shots, time of possession, pass accuracy, and fouls all nearly identical between the two sides. However, the difference came in capitalizing on opportunities. The Hammers did not waste a chance while United squandered aways several.
Looking Ahead
It remains to be seen if West Ham can keep up this level of play, but I am very optimistic as to their chances of continuing to move up the EPL ladder. While October and November feature both winnable and difficult matchups, December looks like the month where a healthy Hammers team can really shoot up the standings.
In December, the Hammers play Newcastle (12/1), Cardiff City (12/4), Crystal Palace (12/8), Fulham (12/15), Watford (12/22), Southampton (12/26), and Burnley (12/29). Only one team is in the top 10 of the standings (Watford). If they can avoid injuries during this time, the Hammers could reach and stay inside the top 10 going into the break.
What do you think about the Hammers victory? Do you think West Ham has a chance to finish in the top 10 of the league?
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