Super Eagles and Fulham attacking midfielder, Alex Iwobi was on fire last night, scoring a brace in his side's 3-2 loss to West Ham United in the English Premier League, Soccernet.ng reports.
The ex-Arsenal man has played in every League game for the Cottagers this season and was included in the starting lineup for the 21st straight game this campaign.
Iwobi got Fulham up to a cracking start, making a mazy run down the left to produce a nearly perfect cut-back for Harry Wilson who crashed the ball into the cross-bar.
It was the home side that broke the deadlock just past the hour mark. A poor exchange of passes in Fulham's box saw Sasa Lukic lose the ball to Carlos Soler, and the Spanish midfielder immediately tapped home inside the London Stadium to become West Ham's 175th goalscorer in the English Premier League.
Carlos Soler scores a BEAUTY for his first West Ham goal!
Graham Potter has an early lead in his first match in charge of the Hammers.
Peacock | #WHUFUL pic.twitter.com/C8oex1cLrS
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 14, 2025
Two minutes later, Graham Potter's side doubled the lead. Mohammed Kudus drove the ball from his own half into Fulham's box to find Carlos Soler. The Spaniard teed up Aaron Wan-Bissaka who had made a marauding run forward, and the ex-Manchester United full-back crossed the ball back for Tomáš Souček to tap home.
JUST LIKE THAT IT'S 2-0
Two goals in two minutes for @WestHam as Tomáš Souček grabs their second
@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/77GFRAPjEC
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 14, 2025
The second half saw Marco Silva's side rekindle their spark in the game. Six minutes in, Alex Iwobi pulled one back for Fulham with a stroke of luck. The Nigerian crossed the ball into the West Ham box, and the ball evaded everyone into the back of the net, although it was helped by a dummy run from Raul Jimenez.
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An error from Bernd Leno gifted West Ham United their third goal of the game. The German goalkeeper lost possession on the edge of Fulham's box and Lucas Paquetá wasted no time in extending his side's advantage.
“A howler by Leno, and an absolute present for Paquetá”@WestHam are gifted another goal in the derby after a mistake by Bernd Leno sees Lucas Paquetá grab a third for his side
@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/3VSGey7KEV
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 14, 2025
Four minutes later, Iwobi pulled another goal back for Fulham, in a similar manner to his first of the night. The former Everton midfielder floated a cross into the box, and the ball evaded everyone into the back of the net, although aided by a dummy run from Harry Wilson.
IWOBI GETS HIS SECOND
If in doubt do it again! Alex Iwobi gets his second of the night with another floating cross into the net
@tntsport & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/5F0zJHjcCI
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 14, 2025
Fulham came close to an equalizer in the closing minutes of the game, but a brilliant clearance off the line by Konstantinos Mavropanos saw Graham Potter claim his first three points in charge of the Hammers. For Fulham, this loss ended their nine-game unbeaten run across all competitions.
An end to our nine-match unbeaten run. pic.twitter.com/tUPgNfITQX
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) January 14, 2025
Alex Iwobi has now been involved in ten goals in the English top-flight this season, scoring seven and providing three assists, which is the best output in his career so far.
