VIDEO: Watch How Mohammed Kudus opened his account for West Ham in the Europa League
West Ham's recent acquisition, Mohammed Kudus, marked his full debut for the club with a crucial goal during their Europa League encounter against Serbian team Backa Topola.
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The Hammers, fresh from their victory in the Europa Conference League last season, faced an early setback as they conceded a goal early in the second half, courtesy of Petar Stanic after Angelo Ogbonna's momentary lapse.
This unexpected turn of events left West Ham supporters stunned, but their team managed to mount a response. Said Benrahma executed a superb run down the left flank and delivered a tantalizing ball into the box, which ultimately resulted in a Nemanja Petrovic own-goal, despite Kudus initially appearing to be the scorer in the 66th minute.
Mohammed Kudus first goal for West Ham , more to come 🔥🔥🔥
No one should pass by without liking ❤️🙌
pic.twitter.com/QIlu8X5IXi— Rowland🤍 (@Ghana_Ronaldo) September 21, 2023
Shortly after, Kudus scored his debut goal for the Hammers with a decisive header from James Ward-Prowse's corner. Ward-Prowse played a pivotal role again, providing a corner from the left that was met by Tomas Soucek's glancing header, extending West Ham's lead to 3-1.
Backa Topola displayed commendable determination in the latter stages of the game, building on their earlier impressive efforts. However, West Ham's superior quality ultimately shone through, securing them three vital points in the group.
James Ward-Prowse continued to enhance his goal contribution record for the club in this match. With two goals and five assists in his first five matches in East London, his performance is notably impressive.
Freiburg from Germany and Olympiacos from Greece await West Ham as their other two adversaries in Group A, as they set their sights on further European success.
Reflecting on his debut, Kudus emphasized the significance of Ward-Prowse's exceptional delivery on set-pieces, highlighting how it offered West Ham valuable scoring opportunities.
Scoring in front of the passionate West Ham fans held special meaning for Kudus, who appreciated their unwavering support throughout the match. He expressed his determination to continue giving his best for the team.
"We've got the three points and that was the most important thing from the first game," Kudus concluded, acknowledging the significance of the victory and looking ahead to the challenges that lie ahead in the competition.
