Share

Yarmolenko double helps Hammers to first league win

Liverpool - Andriy Yarmolenko scored twice on his first start for West Ham as they climbed off the foot of the English Premier League table with a 3-1 win away to Everton on Sunday.

It was the Hammers' first league win under manager Manuel Pellegrini, whose four previous top-flight games in charge of the east London club at the start of this season had all ended in defeat.

This victory at Goodison Park also catapulted West Ham out of the bottom three.

Chilean boss Pellegrini, celebrating his 65th birthday on Sunday, had spent 100 million ($129 million) bringing nine new signings to the London Stadium in the close season.

But such had been the Hammers' poor start to the new campaign that questions were already being asked about the former Manchester City manager's long-term job prospects.

Ukrainian forward Yarmolenko, one of Pellegrini's new signings, gave his manager some breathing space on Merseyside with a double strike that put the visitors 2-0 up just after the half-hour mark.

Gylfi Sigurdsson pulled a goal back in first-half stoppage time before Marko Arnautovic restored West Ham's two-goal lead in the 61st minute as Everton suffered their first defeat under manager Marco Silva.

It took West Ham just 11 minutes to break the deadlock when one long ball out of defence proved too much for Everton to handle.

Arnautovic unselfishly squared the ball to Yarmolenko, who fired home from close range.

And the away fans had a second goal to celebrate when Yarmolenko doubled the Hammers' lead in the 31st minute.

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's poor pass gifted West Ham possession in a dangerous area and Yarmolenko, cutting in off the right flank, beat two defenders before curling a left-footed shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

But just when it seemed West Ham would enjoy a 2-0 lead at the break, Everton gave themselves a lifeline when Sigurdsson headed powerfully home from an excellent cross by full-back Jonjoe Kenny.

Everton squandered several chances to equalise and were made to pay when Pedro Obiang drove into their box and slipped the ball sideways to Arnautovic, who toe-poked a shot past the diving Pickford.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1801 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1763 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1066 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 449 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 184 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
4% - 247 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE