In the 18th round of English soccer's top flight, Southampton faced West Ham United at their own St. Mary's Stadium in a sparkling battle. West Ham United stole all three points from Southampton with a 1-0 win in the second half with Bowen's strike, a win that was worth a lot to them.
The game started off with a bang as the players from both sides went at it for the first time. In the first minute, Bowen attempted a long range shot, but the ball flew over the crossbar, shattering West Ham's dream of taking the lead. However, the two sides went back and forth, but could not break the deadlock.
The turning point came in the 36th minute when West Ham United goalkeeper Fabianski suffered a head injury in defense and was forced to retire. Arreola stepped up to the plate and replaced him. This sudden turn of events undoubtedly brought a huge challenge to the West Ham United defense, but they quickly adjusted and regrouped.
In the second half, West Ham United gradually mastered the rhythm of the field. In the 54th minute, Guido Rodriguez committed a foul while shanking up the pitch, and after a VAR replay, the referee changed the red card to a yellow card, a call that caused controversy among both players. But controversy aside, the game continued.
It wasn't until the 59th minute that West Ham United finally broke the deadlock. Phil Kruger's header from inside the box was followed up by Bowen's padded shot, making the score 1-0. The goal not only gave West Ham United the lead, but also galvanized the team and the fans.
Although Southampton fought back with all their might later in the game, they were never able to find an equalizer. West Ham United's defense was rock solid and eventually kept the 1-0 scoreline until the end.
