Danny Ings scored a crucial 95th-minute goal to secure a point for West Ham in their match against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Ings was brought on as a last-ditch effort by manager Julen Lopetegui in the 82nd minute, ultimately rescuing West Ham from a second straight defeat. Captain Jarrod Bowen did exceptionally well to find Ings in the box in the dying moments, and with just one touch to control the ball, the striker fired it past goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Fulham had a chance to win it immediately after, but Calvin Bassey missed a free header, putting it wide of the post. Earlier in the game, Raul Jimenez had given Fulham the lead in the 24th minute with a composed first-time finish from close range, thanks to a perfectly timed run and assist by Emile Smith Rowe.
Fulham also felt aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty earlier, when referee Tim Robinson ruled that Max Kilman’s challenge on Adama Traore was fair.
At halftime, with his team yet to register a shot on goal, Lopetegui turned to his bench, bringing on Lucas Paqueta and Crysencio Summerville to inject some much-needed attacking threat. Their presence made a difference, and West Ham finally managed to trouble Leno, with Bowen nearly scoring only to be denied by the goalkeeper’s leg.
The Lopetegui era has had a mixed start, with just one win, one draw, and two defeats in the first four Premier League games. Still, Ings' late equalizer offers a glimmer of hope, and the Hammers can take encouragement from their never-say-die attitude. Bowen, who shifted into a central role in the second half, was particularly influential, working tirelessly and providing the crucial assist for the goal.
As Pep Guardiola remarked after Manchester City’s recent 3-1 win over West Ham, “It is a question of time, and [Lopetegui] will do it.” There are certainly signs that Guardiola's words will prove true.
Meanwhile, for Fulham, Emile Smith Rowe has quickly made an impact since his £27 million summer transfer from Arsenal. After scoring his first goal before the international break, he registered his first assist against the Hammers, showing intelligence with a perfectly timed run and a composed pass to Jimenez for the opener.
Smith Rowe almost scored his second Fulham goal, only for his shot to be inadvertently blocked by Jimenez. Fulham fans applauded their new hero as he was substituted in the second half, recognizing they have a special talent in their ranks.
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