Brighton 3 West Ham 2: Baleba screamer snatches dramatic last-gasp win after hosts trailed 2-1 with just MINUTE to play
CARLOS BALEBA’S last-gasp 30-yard rocket heaped more misery on Graham Potter who was booed at his old stomping ground.
West Ham are now without a win in TWO MONTHS as Baleba won it at the death on 92 minutes to add to Kaoru Mitoma’s 89th minute equaliser.
The Hammers couldn’t quite believe their eyes as up to Mitoma’s leveller, they had been on the cusp of a precious win after a woeful recent run of form.
Tomas Soucek found the net with an 83rd-minute diving header in front of the boisterous Hammers fans, who had been giving ex-Brighton boss Potter jip all game.
They had been chanting in support of Niclas Fullkrug and his outburst after the club’s woeful loss at struggling Southampton last time out.
Fans were singing “The German’s right, we’re f***ing s***e” and “get the German on the pitch” as they showed their support for Fullkrug.
The chants came after an early 12th minute wonder strike from Yasin Ayari which was then cancelled out by Mohammed Kudus on 48 minutes to give the Hammers a glimmer of hope.
Ayari looks as though he will be a monster next season and he broke the deadlock with a rocket strike which melted into the top corner like a knife in butter.
Alphonse Areola had no hope of stopping the screamer – which no goalkeeper in the world could stop.
Brighton were at it again and a pinball machine-like series of passes fell to Matt O’Riley who drilled a low shot but it was scooped up by Areola.
Up the other end Bart Vebruggen leapt like a salmon to keep out a bullet header from Tomas Soucek which kissed the woodwork.
Brighton looked like they had inflicted more misery on the Hammers when Simon Adingra appeared to have doubled the lead, but it turns out Mats Wieffer was offside in the build up and VAR concurred with referee Darren England’s decision.
All eyes were on Fullkrug, who came on after the break for James Ward-Prowse following his fiery outburst and subsequent ticking off from Potter in the aftermath.
Queue chants of “Big f***ing German, he says what he wants” aimed at the struggling Hammers players.
The players took it in their stride though and Jarrod Bowen threaded the ball through a pile of Brighton defenders, to Mohammed Kudus who fired home from the edge of the six-yard box.
That was Bowen’s 36th assist for the Hammers – no West Ham player has managed more in the Premier League.
Fabian Hurzeler was left with his head in his hands over his side’s questionable defending.
Brighton were knocking on the door as a string of menacing crosses fell into the box, with Ayari nearly slotting home before he lost his footing.
Local lad Hinshelwood also had a go, sending a shot dipping and curling just over the crossbar.
West Ham hit back though as a pinpoint delivery fell to Soucek who guided the winning header on smack bang in front of a boisterous away end.
But it was all square again when Brajan Gruda headed the ball back across the face of goal and Mitoma was there in the six-yard box to nod past Areola.
The Seagulls were 2-1 down just moments before but a moment of magic from Baleba put them in front as the ball soared into the top corner, giving Ayari a run for his money.