Kudus Magic Saves West Ham: Newcastle Drawn in the Last Minute

West Ham United and Newcastle United faced off in an intense Premier League clash at London’s Olympic Stadium on Sunday, with the match ultimately ending in a 2-2 draw. Mohammed Kudus’ late goal salvaged a point for West Ham, after Alexander Isak had scored twice to give Newcastle a comeback lead following Tomas Soucek’s opener for the home side.

### Dominant Possession and Opportunities for Newcastle

Despite the draw, Newcastle will certainly feel frustrated with the result. The Magpies had a staggering 66% of possession and outshot West Ham 10 to 5. Isak, in particular, came close to securing a hat trick and Newcastle had plenty of other chances to clinch all three points.

### Muddled Tactics and Infuriating Effectiveness: David Moyes’ West Ham

David Moyes’ West Ham side has shown a unique and infuriating brand of effectiveness this season. With world-class players like Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus, the team possesses individuals capable of producing moments of brilliance. However, Moyes’ tactical demands often see the team sit back and wait to counter-attack, especially when they have a lead.

The commitment that Moyes has instilled in his players has resulted in a squad that is both dedicated to a system and eager to unleash their talents on the counter. While West Ham may not be the most exciting team to watch under Moyes, they continue to defy the odds and the numbers.

### Looking Ahead: Crystal Palace and Aston Villa

After the international break, Newcastle will host Crystal Palace in a Saturday morning fixture on October 21st, while West Ham will travel to Aston Villa for an afternoon kickoff the following day. Both teams will be keen to secure victories and continue their ascent up the Premier League table.

### Kudus’ Late Strike and Isak’s Brace

Mohammed Kudus’ goal in the 88th minute was a moment of magic that secured a point for West Ham. The substitute found space and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike past the Newcastle goalkeeper.

On the other hand, Alexander Isak was the standout performer for Newcastle, scoring two goals to give his team a temporary lead. Isak’s brace took his Premier League tally to six goals, placing him behind only Erling Haaland in the top goal scorers’ list.

### Half-Time Analysis: West Ham’s Compact Defense and Soucek’s Opener

At half-time, West Ham held a 1-0 lead against the run of play. Despite having only 17% of possession, the Hammers were able to frustrate Newcastle’s attack thanks to compact defending and quick counter-attacks.

Tomas Soucek opened the scoring for West Ham after a delightful pass from Lucas Paqueta found Emerson in the box. With the Newcastle goalkeeper caught in two minds, Emerson cut the ball back to Soucek, who tapped it home for an easy finish.

### Injuries and Lineups

Prior to the match, both teams had a few injury concerns. West Ham was without Aaron Cresswell and Benjamin Johnson, while Michail Antonio’s groin issue made him a questionable starter. Newcastle had a longer list of absentees, including Sven Botman, Anthony Gordon, Joe Willock, and Harvey Barnes. Callum Wilson and Joelinton were also doubtful due to hamstring and thigh issues, respectively.

The lineups for both teams featured a mix of familiar faces and new signings. West Ham’s starting eleven included Lucas Paqueta and the goal-scoring hero Mohammed Kudus, while Newcastle relied on Alexander Isak and Kieran Trippier for attacking prowess.

### Conclusion: A Mixed Result with Room for Improvement

The 2-2 draw between West Ham United and Newcastle United was a mixed result for both teams. While West Ham would be pleased to salvage a point from a challenging fixture, Newcastle will be disappointed not to have converted their dominance into a victory.

Looking ahead, both teams will have opportunities to improve upon their performances. West Ham will need to find a balance between defensive solidity and attacking flair, while Newcastle must focus on converting their possession and chances into goals.