{"id":297630,"date":"2023-11-26T23:24:19","date_gmt":"2023-11-26T23:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=297630"},"modified":"2023-11-26T23:24:19","modified_gmt":"2023-11-26T23:24:19","slug":"warrior-spirit-of-west-ham-midfielder-soucek-is-too-much-for-burnley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/warrior-spirit-of-west-ham-midfielder-soucek-is-too-much-for-burnley\/","title":{"rendered":"Warrior spirit of West Ham midfielder Soucek is too much for Burnley"},"content":{"rendered":"
With Burnley wobbling, West Ham\u2019s Mohammed Kudus launched one final cross into the box. Given the Clarets\u2019 brittle confidence, it was little surprise they conceded seconds later.<\/p>\n
The identity of the goalscorer wasn\u2019t too shocking, either. Tomas Soucek met the ball sweetly on the volley as West Ham snatched a wholly undeserved three points. The Czech is just in that kind of form, as he scored in a fourth consecutive game for club and country and his ninth overall this season.<\/p>\n
Not known for being especially prolific, the midfielder has nonetheless scored late West Ham winners against Nottingham Forest and Burnley, plus two goals to help the Czech Republic to Euro 2024, within a fortnight.<\/p>\n
Soucek has a warrior quality about him \u2014 at Turf Moor he sported a big plaster on his forehead to protect the wounds inflicted when Poland\u2019s Jan Bednarek accidentally booted him in the face during the international break.<\/p>\n
And the Hammers needed that spirit on an afternoon where they sorely lacked the potency of injured duo Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio up top.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
West Ham secured a dramatic late comeback win against Burnley at Turf Moor, winning 2-1 after a late own goal from Dara O’Shea and an injury time strike from Tomas Soucek<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
O’Shea (left) turned into his own net after a dangerous cross from Mohammed Kudus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
Kudus and Edson Alvarez fought jet-lag after playing for Ghana and Mexico respectively in midweek, with the former only coming to life with his two assists late on. A few others, without such an excuse, also performed well below their best.<\/p>\n
\u2018At half-time, the boys weren\u2019t happy and the manager wasn\u2019t happy,\u2019 said Soucek. \u2018We were playing very slowly, then we came out and within a few minutes we\u2019d conceded. There was a moment when Burnley had a corner and I just said to the others, \u201cCome on guys, we need to do better\u201d. We managed that and, because of our spirit and belief, we won all three points.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s always difficult after an international break because everyone has been somewhere else in the world. But we needed to win this game.\u2019<\/p>\n
Equally pleasing for David Moyes was the way 19-year-old forward Divin Mubama pressured Dara O\u2019Shea into the own goal that cancelled out Jay Rodriguez\u2019s earlier penalty.<\/p>\n
\u2018Divin has a mentality and an attitude as good as any top player. He was so determined and works incredibly hard for the team,\u2019 said Moyes.<\/p>\n
Burnley have thrown away 14 points from winning positions this season and this latest setback will sting after they bossed the game for 87 minutes.<\/p>\n
Vincent Kompany\u2019s side remain bottom and they must beat Sheffield United on Saturday and Everton on December 16 or risk being cut adrift.<\/p>\n
BURNLEY (4-4-2)<\/span>: Trafford 6; Vitinho 6, O\u2019Shea 6, Beyer 6, Taylor 6; Gudmundsson 7 (Cullen 85min), Berge 6.5, Brownhill 6.5, KOLEOSHO 7.5 (Zaroury 81); Amdouni 6 (Ramsey 72, 6), Rodriguez 6.5.\u00a0<\/p>\n Scorer<\/span>: Rodriguez 49 (pen).\u00a0<\/p>\n Booked<\/span>: Beyer.\u00a0<\/p>\n Manager<\/span>: Vincent Kompany 6.\u00a0<\/p>\n WEST HAM UTD (4-2-3-1)<\/span>: Areola 6; Coufal 5, Zouma 6, Aguerd 5, Emerson 6; Alvarez 5 (Benrahma 63, 6), Soucek 6.5; Kudus 7, Ward-Prowse 6, Paqueta 5; Ings 5 (Mubama 63, 6).\u00a0<\/p>\n Scorers<\/span>: O\u2019Shea 87 (og), Soucek 90+1.\u00a0<\/p>\n Booked<\/span>: Alvarez, Aguerd, Coufal.\u00a0<\/p>\n Manager<\/span>: David Moyes 5.\u00a0<\/p>\n