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Aston Villa and West Ham United played an exciting tie at 1-1 in Villa Park, with both parties left in Rue Opportunities lost.
Jacob Ramsey’s first strike set the tone for a braceant game, but the head of the second half of Emerson recovered a point for the visitors.
Villa started and found the advance in the eighth minute. Jacob Ramsey headed for the box after a skilled two with Ollie Watkins, making a left foot finish beyond Alphone Areola.
The hosts almost doubled moments later, but the Watkins header of his Watkins Tielemans missed the score.
Villa continued to pillage -with Leon Bailey and Boubacar Kamara both trying Areola.
West Ham struggled to find the rhythm in the initial 45 minutes, but had his own moments. Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus were animated, with the latter forcing a crucial block of Tyrone Mings.
Emerson’s header ends the game in a draw on Villa Park ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/gsh66tr5yt
– West Ham United (@westham) January 26, 2025
Hammers’ best opportunity came when Lucas Pocket shot after a search. The injury of Mings to the end of half, however, made a shadow over Villa’s strong performance.
Leaving 1-0 at halftime, the visitors left with renewed intent. Villa’s defensive resilience was tested, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s running, which cause problems on the flank.
Kudus and Alvarez had their efforts blocked, while the lack of package emphasized the growing despair of the hammers.
In the 70th minute, West Ham found his Igualada. A quick movement involved Wan-Bissaka, Kudus and Alvarez culminated in the latter delivering a sublime cross. Emerson arrived unmarked the Far Post to nod the ball through Emiliano Martínez and the end of the corner, causing wild celebrations among the fans.
The final 20 minutes saw an end to end action, as both parties launched a winner. Villa’s substitute, Jhon Duran, had a golden opportunity, but shot the shot after putting in a loose ball.
A few moments later, Danny Igs, an old town striker, almost turned the game in favor of West Ham with a low unit that blinked the post.
Emiliano Buendia and Tielemans of Villa also approached, with the half volley sailing on the bar. Package, struggling with injury, remained a threat to West Ham, creating an opportunity for Tomas Soucek, whose head was agonizing.
The seven minutes of added time only increased the drama. Villa’s Buendia sent a half volley at the end of Holte, while the brave package efforts to chase a winner did not have anything.
