There was a poignant moment after Andriy Yarmolenko’s goal set West Ham on their way to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa at the London Stadium.
In his first match back since taking compassionate leave amid his native Ukraine’s war with Russia, Yarmolenko showed great improvisation as he tucked the ball past Emi Martinez.
Yarmolenko, who received a standing ovation from both sets of fans when he entered the pitch on 53 minutes, fell to his knees and was congratulated by every teammate after scoring.
The 32-year-old, whose family are still in Ukraine then cut a tearful figure as he walked back into position.
The victory, West Ham’s first in their last four outings, was sealed on 82 minutes thanks to Pablo Fornals’ goal in the 82nd minute. Jacob Ramsey scored a consolation goal for the Villans in stoppage-time.
However, the Hammers’ victory came at a cost with injuries to Antonio and Aaron Cresswell, bad news with the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Sevilla just four days away.
Left-back Cresswell had been West Ham’s chief attacking threat, creating an early chance for Said Benrahma who skipped between two challenges but fired too close to Emi Martinez.
Villa, who lost full-back Lucas Digne to an early hamstring injury, almost took the lead when Ramsey brushed off Ben Johnson to burst into the area and feed Philippe Coutinho, whose attempted back-heel was blocked by Lukasz Fabianski.
The best chance of the first half fell to West Ham when Cresswell swung in another cross which Tomas Soucek met with a glancing header that flew inches wide.
The half ended on a painful note for Villa’s Douglas Luiz, who took an accidental kick to the mouth from Manuel Lanzini.
West Ham’s hectic schedule, and painfully thin squad, looked to be catching up with them when Antonio and Cresswell limped off in quick succession after the break.
Villa were inches from going ahead when Danny Ings prodded the ball goalwards from a corner and Fabianski tipped the ball against a post.
Moments later, from a West Ham corner, Kurt Zouma’s header was parried into the air by Martinez and Craig Dawson headed the rebound over.
But then came Yarmolenko’s moment, and what a goal it was. The wideman took one touch to control Benrahma’s lay-off with his right foot, then spun and lashed the ball home with his left.
The London Stadium erupted as Yarmolenko’s team-mates engulfed him, and he emerged from the celebrations in tears.
Fornals doubled West Ham’s advantage when he swept home Benrahma’s cross, and although Ramsey made it a nervy end with an 89th-minute strike the hosts held out.
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By: Jackson Cole
Title: Poignant moment as Andriy Yarmolenko is reduced to tears and congratulated by teammates after scoring goal in West Ham’s victory over Aston Villa
Sourced From: talksport.com/football/1062611/poignant-andriy-yarmolenko-tears-goal-west-ham-victory-aston-villa/
Published Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2022 16:02:35 +0000
