Bowen and Fullkrug Fire West Ham Past Bournemouth in Atlanta Clash
West Ham wrapped up their Premier League Summer Series campaign in style with a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta—a result that probably felt harsh on the Cherries given how the game played out.
Bournemouth came into the match with a clear sense of purpose. They started on the front foot, moving the ball around confidently and creating a number of promising chances early on. Evanilson hit the post inside ten minutes, and Hamed Traore and Marcus Tavernier also came close as Iraola’s side looked sharp and aggressive in the final third. But as has often been the case in preseason matches, finishing proved to be their downfall.
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Despite Bournemouth’s dominance in possession and territory, it was West Ham who struck first—against the run of play. On 24 minutes, a clever ball from Malick Diouf found Jarrod Bowen at the back post. His initial shot was blocked, but the ball rebounded kindly and was calmly laid off to Niclas Füllkrug, who side-footed home from close range. Just like that, the Irons had the lead.
The Cherries responded well. Illia Zabarnyi smashed a header off the crossbar just minutes later, and they continued to press and probe. However, no breakthrough came. A mix of poor luck and excellent defending from the Hammers kept Bournemouth at bay.
In the second half, West Ham began to settle into the game more. While they still had less of the ball, their chances were more dangerous. And midway through the half, they doubled their lead in clinical fashion. Diouf again was the provider, whipping in a brilliant cross from the left, which Bowen met sweetly with a volley that nestled into the far corner.
Bournemouth tried to mount a comeback, with wave after wave of attack, but the cutting edge just wasn’t there. Substitutes were rolled on in bulk to add fresh legs, but the final pass or shot kept eluding them. Even a late powerful volley from Eli Junior Kroupi failed to test the keeper, as it was blocked before reaching goal.
So while the Cherries may have played the more attractive football, it was West Ham’s composure and ruthless finishing that made the difference. Graham Potter’s side left Atlanta with the win, and two well-taken goals from their forwards—leaving plenty to be optimistic about heading into the new season.
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