Michail Antonio knows a thing or two about converting Jarrod Bowen crosses, as Tomas Soucek did during West Ham’s hard-fought 1-1 draw with Michael Carrick’s Manchester United at the London Stadium.
And the club’s greatest-ever Premier League goalscorer could not help but be impressed as one of his former teammates stormed through a complacent Red Devils backline to break a record of his own.
Soucek finally replaced ex-Liverpool and Aston Villa ace Patrik Berger as the Czech footballer with the most goals in the competition. This close range tap-in to gave West Ham United a 50th minute lead, following some slack Luke Shaw defending and some inspired Jarrod Bowen wingplay, was his 39th since arriving from Slavia Prague half a decade ago.
Tomas Soucek HAS to be a West Ham legend now, right? 🇨🇿
What did you make of his goalscoring heroics?
Rangers legend Ally McCoist labelled Soucek’s opener ‘brilliant’, both in terms of the timing of the run and the placement of the finish. Michail Antonio, speaking in his punditry role for TNT Sports, was also keen to ensure no viewers turned off the TV underestimating the quality of Soucek’s finish.
Sign up for free here to tell us your verdict!Michail Antonio hails Tomas Soucek after West Ham hold Manchester United
It was a goal which looks more and more impressive the more you see it.
Soucek hangs back at the edge of the box and drifts in unmarked, past Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and on the blindside of Lisandro Martinez.
Senne Lammens has been extremely difficult to beat since replacing Andre Onana as Man United’s number one, but the big Belgian had no answer to the deftness and the subtlety of Soucek’s instep.
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
“[Shaw] needs to not let it bounce. It gave Jarrod the chance to knock it back to Tomas, and he knocks it back to Jarrod. Jarrod has taken his time [with the cross], and Tomas has broken through the gap. A lovely little touch through the keeper’s legs,” says Antonio, who celebrated Europa Conference League glory alongside Soucek in Prague back in 2023.
“That finish is a lot harder than you actually think because there wasn’t much of an angle. To get it between his legs and into the far corner, it’s a great finish.”
Nuno Espirito Santo left with mixed feelings at the London Stadium Soucek the scorer but did anyone outshine him for West Ham?
Pick your Man of the Match!
Nuno bemoaned West Ham’s wastefulness in the lead-up to Benjamin Sesko’s devastating 96th minute equaliser. Numerous counter-attacking opportunities were squandered, not least when home debutant Adama Traore burst through but failed to find a way past a sprawling Leny Yoro.
Barely anyone in a West Ham shirt dropped below 8/10 – at least, from Hammers News’ perspective. Football really can be a cruel game.
“[The result will be] very depressing for the boys. They are going to be so upset,” says Antonio, who remains a free-agent after Championship strugglers Leicester City pulled out of a deal around the festive period.
“But before the game, they would definitely have taken this point. By tomorrow, they will realise how well they did.
“A point against Man United, who are on form right now, is still a massive point for them to stay up this season.”
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