The discussion regarding David Moyes’s future has a new topic of discussion. Supporters who believe Moyes should leave at the end of the season have a new thought after watching West Ham secure a spot in the quarter-finals of European competition for the third consecutive year. This victory was sealed by Mohammed Kudus scoring two impressive solo goals.
Was it an enjoyable experience? West Ham performed exceptionally well as they easily defeated Freiburg, continuing their pursuit in the Europa League with a 5-1 victory overall following an impressive comeback. Credit must be given to Moyes for his bold decision to unleash Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, and Lucas Paquetá to harass Freiburg’s defenders.
A more aggressive formation would rectify the consequences of a narrow 1-0 loss in the initial game. Michail Antonio, substituting for James Ward-Prowse, provided a key presence in the forward position. Bowen, back in his position on the right, consistently pressured Freiburg. Tomas Soucek and Edson Álvarez enabled Paquetá, who has primarily played on the left this season, to control the flow of the game in the center.
“I am extremely satisfied with the goals and overall performance,” expressed Moyes. “We were very disappointed after our first game and knew we had to correct it. It’s remarkable that West Ham has reached the quarter-finals for three consecutive years, potentially a first in the club’s history. It’s a fantastic accomplishment and shows how much the club has progressed.”
The game began with West Ham being on the attack, as Bowen’s quick shot challenged Noah Atubolu. Within nine minutes, Freiburg’s lead vanished as a result. A corner kick from Aaron Cresswell was met by a skilful flick from Soucek, and Paquetá scored after breaking away from Vincenzo Grifo.
Freiburg was not motivated by the poorly executed marks, despite their attempt to quickly even the score through Roland Sallai. The more physically strong team, West Ham, maintained their superiority. Antonio created an opportunity for Kudus, who missed the target, and the second goal was scored in the 32nd minute. Christian Günter tumbled to the ground while attempting to bring down Bowen, who netted his 18th goal of the season with a powerful 25-yard shot.
Trailing in the game for the first time, Freiburg showed signs of energy. The atmosphere shifted as Lukasz Fabianski made saves against Grifo and Maximilian Eggestein before the end of the first half.
Those openings were reminders of why Moyes tends to favour a more solid approach. Freiburg found space too easily at times. West Ham would use their knowhow to judge when to sit and when to press.
Their fourth point exemplified this, as Kudus took control of the ball after a period of Freiburg’s possession. Starting from his own half, he swiftly advanced through the center and skillfully outmaneuvered the final defender before calmly scoring against Atubolu.
Kudus is a force to be reckoned with in this state, displaying incredible strength and skill. He has a unique rhythm to his movements and his smooth dribbling sets him apart from others. His abilities are diverse, as shown by his second goal which was a powerful left-footed strike from 20 yards, extending the lead to 5-0.
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After 52 minutes, West Ham gained control as Bowen’s deflected cross landed at Cresswell’s feet. Despite being sent off twice in West Ham’s Europa League campaign two years prior, the experienced left-back managed to finesse a shot into the far corner.
After completing his task, Moyes substituted Paquetá, who suffered an injury in the first half. The Brazilian midfielder of West Ham appeared angry as he took a seat on the bench.
However, Paquetá has recently returned from a calf injury and it was a logical decision for Moyes to limit his playing time. The victory for West Ham not only increases England’s chances of securing an additional Champions League spot, but also highlights the importance of Paquetá’s creative abilities for the team to end the season on a positive note.
Source: theguardian.com
