Jack Harrison scored a match-winning hat-trick in a thriller straight out of the Marcelo Bielsa handbook.
Breathless, exciting and brilliant, Leeds were unstoppable, showed incredible spirit against all of the odds and taught a few other Premier League giants about playing on when it would be so easy to come up with excuses.
Harrison’s third goal was straight out of the top drawer and yet Jarrod Bowen’s incredible 94th minute miss to snatch a point will probably live just as long in the memory.
Quite why Bowen tried to score with his chest rather than head the ball from five yards with the goal gaping is anyone’s guess as is how he managed to generate enough power to get it over the bar.
But defeat was a huge missed opportunity for West Ham in the race for fourth place.
But no-one should overlook Raphinha’s impact on the game either as the Brazil midfielder was sensational. His skill, flair and vision make him one of the very best players to watch in the Premier League.
(Image: Getty Images)
Leeds were pretty toothless in the same fixture in the FA Cup last week but this was them back to their very best – even though they had eight out through injury and one through suspension. They had just one senior player on the bench in Rodrigo.
The joy about Leeds under Bielsa is that they bring something different to the party. Or should we say work event.
Energy, enthusiasm and non-stop work rate. So many teams come up, just try to survive and yet Leeds set out to entertain.
It doesn’t always work, of course. But when it does, you get classics like this.
(Image: NurPhoto/PA Images)
West Ham must have thought they would strengthen their push for Champions League football after rivals Manchester United dropped points and Tottenham vs Arsenal postponed.
But the warning signs came after ten minutes. Raphinha drove forward, pulled the ball back and Mateusz Klich’s shot was brilliantly saved by Lukasz Fabianski but Adam Forshaw teed up Harrison to slot home.
Leeds then lost both Junior Firpo and Forshaw to injury, Leo Fuhr Hjelde and Lewis Bate came on but the latter was then substituted himself for Rodrigo. After being hooked at half time last Sunday, Bate has probably had better weeks.
West Ham should have levelled when Craig Dawson missed a sitter but then equalised after 34 minutes when Bowen was left unmarked to head home Aaron Cresswell’s corner.
But Leeds were back in front four minutes later.
Again, Raphinha was involved, Luke Ayling headed on the Brazilian’s corner and Harrison bundled in at the back post. Dan James went clean through in first half injury time but fired straight at Fabianksi and you wondered if they would be made to pay.
West Ham levelled again after 52 minutes. Declan Rice and Michail Antonio linked up, Pablo Fornals raced through and his low shot wrong footed Leeds keeper Illan Meslier.
(Image: PA)
But Leeds refused to buckle.
Nikola Vlasic lost the ball in midfield, Raphinha’s perfectly weighted pass then set up Harrison to lift the ball over Fabianski and into the net. It was a peach of a goal. Wonderful finish from a player who had scored just once previously in the league this season.
Raphinha crashed a 25 yard shot against the post, Klich had an effort ruled out for offside as it hit Rodrigo on the line. Andriy Yarmolenko suffered the same fate when Bowen was offside.
Leeds were hanging on in the closing stages but had an almighty let off when Antonio’s cross put the ball on a plate for Bowen only for him to chest the ball over.
It was only Leeds’ third win in 30 trips to London. A missed opportunity for West Ham.
But a thrilling game to make most people forget about postponements and excuses.
Leeds set Premier League example as Jack Harrison’s hat-trick decides West Ham thriller
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