Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham: Enes Unal Strikes Late as Cherries Come from Two Goals Down to Draw

Substitute Enes Unal struck a late equaliser as Bournemouth came back from two goals down to earn a thrilling 2-2 draw with West Ham in the Premier League.

West Ham led 2-0 at half-time, courtesy of a double from Callum Wilson against his old club, but Marcus Tavernier reduced the deficit in the 69th minute before Unal rescued a point a minute after coming off the bench.

Unal could have then won the game for the hosts in the closing stages but the Turkish forward was denied by a brilliant save from West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola.

Wilson fired the visitors ahead at a rain-soaked Vitality Stadium after just 12 minutes with a superb goal – chesting down a long ball from Areola before drilling a low 25-yard drive past a wrong-footed Djordje Petrovic.

The 33-year-old forward added a second 13 minutes later after Jarrod Bowen flicked on a ball into the box towards Jean-Clair Todibo, who headed it down for Wilson to produce a sublime finish on the turn into the top corner.

It was the former Newcastle striker’s third goal in two matches and fourth in the league this season.

The Cherries were handed a second-half lifeline by Maximilian Kilman who conceded a penalty for handball. Marcus Tavernier blasted the spot-kick past Areola to reduce the hosts’ arrears in the 69th minute.

Areola then produced a crucial reflex save to keep out an effort from Eli Junior Kroupi, but Unal curled past the Hammers goalkeeper after being played through on goal by Marcos Senesi to draw Bournemouth level.

The Cherries are seventh with 19 points from 12 games while West Ham climbed out of the relegation zone and sit 17th – level on points with18th-placed Leeds United, who have a game in hand.

West Ham analysis: Irons cling on after Wilson heroics

West Ham hired Nuno hoping the Portuguese manager would revive a side languishing in the relegation zone after four defeats in five games under his predecessor Graham Potter.

Nuno’s reign, however, began with the Hammers collecting just one point from his first four matches to further darken the mood at the club and lead to protests that saw thousands of supporters marching with a coffin and hearse.

Back-to-back wins before the international break brought some smiles back on the field and in the stands, but familiar problems reared their head on Saturday despite two-goal Wilson showcasing his quality up front.

Nuno’s side went into the break with a 2-0 advantage and looked destined for a confidence-boosting third successive win.

Wilson came off early as he was replaced by Tomas Soucek in a reshuffle in the 52nd minute and departed to applause from supporters of both West Ham and Bournemouth, for whom he scored 67 goals in 187 appearances.

But the Hammers were a shadow of the side without the striker on the field – and the game’s turning point came when Kilman gave away the penalty that was converted by Tavernier.

The visitors tried to hold on for three points but it was only a matter of time before the Cherries equalised, with the Hammers defence struggling for most of the second half.

Nuno will be grateful to keeper Areola for the draw and will find positives in Wilson continuing his scoring form – but dropping two crucial points from their position at half-time will have hurt.

Bournemouth analysis: Cherries show resilience at home again

Andoni Iraola’s side suffered consecutive away defeats by Manchester City and Aston Villa before the international break, having only lost once in their first nine games of the season.

And the Spanish manager was dealt a tough hand for West Ham’s visit as leading scorer Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert both missed out after picking up injuries during the international break.

Ben Gannon-Doak is also set for an extended period on the sidelines after having surgery on a hamstring injury he picked up with Scotland.

But despite those absences, this game proved again the Cherries are a different beast at home this season.

The travelling fans were celebrating in the stands by half-time as the Hammers raced into a two-goal lead – but Iraola’s side never gave up.

While West Ham and Wilson were clinical in attack, the hosts continued to probe at the opposite end with Alex Scott going closest in the first half when he tested Areola at the near post.

Scott was replaced by Ryan Christie at the break to spark the comeback and the Scotland midfielder tested Areola with a powerful effort early in the second half.

Bournemouth did not give up and their efforts were rewarded with a point, with Unal proving an inspired substitution.

The result means they remain unbeaten at home this season – with four wins and two draws – and Iraola will want more of what he witnessed in the second half as his side look to return to winning ways next week.

Source: BBC