Leeds 2-2 West Ham: Hammers banish losing run after improved performance in entertaining draw

Leeds United v West Ham United - Premier League
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Marc Mayo4 January 2023

West Ham ended a run of five defeats in a row with an entertaining 2-2 draw away to Leeds in the Premier League.

An even opening to the game saw Rodrigo Moreno burst through on goal after a poor piece of play by Thilo Kehrer inside the first three minutes, only to be met by a solid Nayef Aguerd slide tackle.

However, West Ham’s defending had plenty to be desired when Wilfried Gnonto put Leeds ahead on 27 minutes with his first goal for the club.

A one-two with Crysencio Summerville left the Italian youngster free to fire a powerful effort past Lukasz Fabianski under very little pressure.

Leeds looked the more likely to score the game’s second goal for a spell after the opener yet West Ham came back into it, Vladimir Coufal attempting to catch Illan Meslier off his line with an audacious lob from 45 yards that landed on the roof of the net.

Lucas Paqueta was the man to get the goal, from the penalty spot on the verge of the break to open his Hammers account after VAR intervened on a clear foul on Jarrod Bowen in the area.

Within a minute of the restart, West Ham were ahead. Brendan Aaronson’s aimless pass inside his own half landed at Gianluca Scamacca’s feet and he swiftly controlled, turned and fired home for a fine goal from distance that ended his seven-game dry spell.

Leeds lacked cutting edge in attempting to draw level as Summerville escaped a red card for landing his studs on Coufal’s shin, the defender soon limping off with the scars to show for it.

But Rodrigo made it 2-2 on 70 minutes with an accurate finish from 18 yards to set up a potentially spectacular finish.

Liam Cooper had the best chance to snatch all three points, seeing a header blocked on the line by Michail Antonio five minutes from time.

David Moyes looked to have settled for a point but Antonio then came within inches of marking West Ham’s first game since the death of joint-chairman David Gold with a win, only to just miss Said Benrahma’s fine cross on the stretch.

There was still time for Fabianski to produce a wonderful stop to deny Rodrigo’s header and ensure his side put a halt to their losing run.

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