Luton Town 1-2 West Ham: Hammers down Hatters thanks to goals from Jarrod Bowen and Kurt Zouma
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Updated 01/09/2023 at 23:10 GMT
Luton Town hosted their first ever Premier League match at Kenilworth Road but it wasn't a happy homecoming for the newly promoted side after they were beaten 2-1 by West Ham - a result that sends the Hammers top of the table. Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring before Kurt Zouma made sure of the points in the second half, despite a Mads Juel Andersen consolation late on.
arrod Bowen of West Ham United celebrates victory after the Premier League match between Luton Town and West Ham United at Kenilworth Road on September 01, 2023 in Luton, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
West Ham survive a late Luton Town fightback to win 2-1 and go top of the Premier League on Friday night thanks to goals from Jarrod Bowen and Kurt Zouma.
The match quickly established a pattern which it maintained throughout the first half, with West Ham dominating possession and Luton defending deep.
Said Benrahma had West Ham’s first chance after 12 minutes, rifling his effort wide of the target.
West Ham found the breakthrough after 38 minutes thanks to a Bowen header after some sensational work from Lucas Paqueta. Paqueta played a brilliant ball over the top for Bowen who was able to power his header at Thomas Kaminski and into the back of the net.
Luton had their best chance of the first half just minutes later, Ryan Giles did brilliantly to get past Bowen before clipping in a cross which Carlton Morris was able to direct towards goal but his header wouldn’t come down quick enough and hit the roof of the net.
Emerson thought he had doubled West Ham’s advantage five minutes into the second half when he rifled his effort into the back of the net but it was quickly ruled out for offside. West Ham continued to control proceedings, putting pressure on Luton’s defence without managing to find a second.
Luton fought well off the ball to contain and frustrate West Ham but struggled to mount anything serious in the form of an attack.
Zouma made sure of all three points five minutes from time, rising highest with a fantastic leap to meet James Ward-Prowse’s corner.
The hosts scored a historic consolation in stoppage time, Mads Juel Andersen's goal wasn't enough to rescue a point for the Hatters but it will go down in the history books as Luton's first ever Premier League goal at Kenilworth Road.
Talking point - David Moyes' high-flying Hammers
Despite their European glory last season, things weren't all rosy at West Ham. After finishing just six points clear of the relegation zone last season and then losing their key man Declan Rice in the transfer window, it would have been easy for West Ham to go into this season with low expectations but they could hardly have had a better start to the campaign.
Tonight's match was a different test for the Hammers, after beating both Chelsea and Brighton 3-1, two sides who completely dominated possession, this match vs Luton was a test to see what Moyes' side could do with the ball and with the pressure on them.
West Ham continued to knock on the stubborn Luton door and eventually it paid off, with Bowen and Zouma grabbing the two goals. It's a 2-1 win that has sent them to the top of the Premier League back to East London with smiles on their faces.
Player of the match - Kurt Zouma (West Ham)
It was a real toss-up between Brazilian magician Paqueta and Zouma but the French defender just edged it. An absolutely imperious display in defence, he won the majority of his duels (9/13), made three interceptions and 10 clearances. He gave the Luton attack no change whatsoever tonight and thrived on the physical battles. Zouma is a defender who won't be bullied and tonight he stood up to the challenge superbly - a great display.
Player ratings
Luton Town: Kaminski 6, Doughty 6, Burke 6, Juel Andersen 7, Bell 6, Giles 7, Chong 6, Makamba 6, Barkley 7, Morris 7, Adebayo 6 Subs: Kabore 6,Brown 6, Mpanzu 6, Ogbene 6, Woodrow 6
West Ham United: Areola 6, Emerson 6, Aguerd 7, Zouma 9, Coufal 7, Ward-Prowse 8, Alvarez 7, Paqueta 9, Bowen 8, Benrahma 7, Antonio 6 Subs: Fornals 6, Ings 6, Kudus N/A
Match higlights
38’ GOAL - WEST HAM UNITED - Jarrod Bowen fires West Ham ahead! Lucas Paqueta plays a magical ball over the top for Bowen who fires home his header.
40’ JUST OVER FROM MORRIS! - Ryan Giles does brilliantly to get past Bowen before clipping in a cross to Morris who glances his header onto the roof of the net.
50' NO GOAL - OFFSIDE - Emerson has the ball in the back of the net for West Ham but it's ruled out for offside.
85' GOAL - WEST HAM UNITED - Kurt Zouma has made it 2-0 to West Ham! James Ward-Prowse fired in a brilliant corner which Zouma rose highest to power home.
92' GOAL - LUTON TOWN - Juels Andersen has scored Luton Town's first ever Premier League goal at Kenilworth Road!
Key stat
James Ward-Prowse has scored or assisted in each of his three Premier League games for West Ham this season (3 assists, 1 goal).
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