West Ham beat Newcastle with second-half fightback in EPL opener
West Ham fought back to beat Newcastle and make a winning start to the new season on Sunday.
The Hammers were down 2-1 at half-time but produced a brilliant second-half display to turn the game around with goals from Said Benrahma, Tomas Soucek and Michail Antonio.
Antonio’s goal was his 47th in the Premier League and means he is now level with Paolo di Canio as West Ham’s leading all-time Premier League goalscorer.
West Ham made a nightmare start and fell behind after just five minutes when Callum Wilson put Newcastle ahead.
But the visitors responded well to that early setback and equalised on 19 minutes when a low cross from Aaron Cresswell went all the way in at the far post.
It initially looked like Jarrod Bowen touched the ball home from an offside position but, after a VAR check, the goal was given because the ball had already crossed the line.
Newcastle were inches away from retaking the lead when Miguel Almiron hit the crossbar from range before Jacob Murphy headed them back in front after 40 minutes.
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But West Ham responded brilliantly in the second half and deservedly equalised on 53 minutes when Antonio dug out a cross from the left and Benrahma headed home from close range.
The Hammers then went ahead after 63 minutes as Antonio had a penalty saved by Newcastle goalkeeper Freddie Woodman but Tomas Soucek was quickest to react and lashed home to put West Ham in front for the first time.
It was 4-2 and game over three minutes later when West Ham ripped Newcastle apart on the counter and Antonio smahed in an unstoppable shot to equal Di Canio’s record.