Premier League news: Aston Villa fight back in five-goal thriller to beat West Ham 3-2
Aston Villa produced a dramatic comeback to secure a 3-2 win against West Ham United at the London Stadium on Sunday, December 14, a result that keeps Unai Emery’s side firmly in the Premier League title conversation.
Villa twice found themselves behind before a late strike sealed all three points in an enthralling contest.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Harrison Pearce explores the key moments of the match.
Early goals set the tone in frantic first half
The match began in electrifying fashion when West Ham stunned Villa just 29 seconds in.
A defensive lapse from Ezri Konsa allowed Mateus Fernandes to pounce and fire home from a tight angle, marking the fastest goal of the Premier League season so far.
Villa responded swiftly. Nine minutes later, pressure from an Ollie Watkins delivery forced West Ham defender Konstantinos Mavropanos into an unfortunate own goal.
Despite this early reply, West Ham regained the lead in the 24th minute.
Jarrod Bowen, well-positioned inside the box after a blocked shot, reacted quickest to poke the ball home and send the hosts into the break with an advantage.
Rogers leads Villa’s second-half comeback
However, the second half belonged to Villa and, in particular, Morgan Rogers.
Just five minutes after the restart, Rogers calmly controlled a cross from Youri Tielemans before sliding the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 2-2.
With West Ham pushing for a third, Villa continued to grow into the game.
A Bowen effort that looked set to put the hosts ahead again was ruled out for offside, and as the match entered its final stages, it was Rogers once more who struck the decisive blow.
Receiving the ball in space outside the box, he unleashed a spectacular long-range strike that curled beyond the reach of Alphonse Areola and into the top corner, sparking wild celebrations amongst the travelling Villa support.
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Villa stay in title hunt as West Ham woes deepen
The victory kept Villa on a remarkable run of form, marking their 10th win in 11 Premier League matches and maintaining their pressure near the top of the table.
Sitting just three points behind leaders Arsenal, Villa’s impressive consistency has transformed what looked like a middling campaign into a serious challenge for honours.
Meanwhile, West Ham’s defeat leaves them deep in the relegation zone, unable to hold onto leads despite spirited performances.
The home side also paused before kick-off to pay tribute to club legend Billy Bonds, who passed away recently, adding an emotional backdrop to what proved to be a dramatic afternoon of football.
Morgan Rogers emerged as the hero of the day, his brace including a stunning winner, earning plaudits and cementing his importance to Villa’s ambitions this season.
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