LONDON — West Ham
United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 at the London Stadium to end their
winless run and ease the pressure on head coach Julen Lopetegui.
Wolves wing-back Matt Doherty struck a rare goal on 69
minutes to cancel out Tomas Soucek's looping header, as things livened up after
a tepid first half. But West Ham, who also saw a Mohammed Kudus strike
overturned following a VAR review at 1-0 up, restored their lead through Jarrod
Bowen's cultured finish only two minutes and 17 seconds later, Premier League
reports.
Wolves were unable to find a second leveller as they fell to
a third successive loss, a result that leaves them 19th in the Premier League
table and four points from fourth-bottom Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, West Ham
remain 14th, but with their cushion to the bottom three increased to nine
points.
Neither team could break the deadlock in the first half,
with Joao Gomes missing a clear opportunity by steering his shot wide, while
Bowen and Kudus both tested goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
West Ham took the lead nine minutes after the break when
Tomas Soucek, unmarked at the back post, headed Bowen's corner over Johnstone
and past Gomes, who was covering on the line.
Kudus thought he had added a second when he turned in
Bowen's cross, but a VAR review ruled him offside. Wolves capitalised on the
decision, as Matt Doherty fired a low volley past Lukasz Fabianski from 12
yards to equalise.
West Ham's response was rapid, though, as Bowen turned
Goncalo Guedes with ease and curled the ball into the bottom-left corner for
what proved to be the winner.
"We are happy, we dedicate the victory to Michail and
his family. It has been tough the last days - the last week - the last days
especially. He deserves this. We love a lot Michail, he's a special person for
us. I'm sure he'll overcome this bad moment and come back. Today the best thing
we can do is get the victory for him," West Ham manager Lopetegui said.
