Enes Unal's stunning free-kick canceled out Lucas Paqueta's controversial VAR-awarded penalty to give Bournemouth a deserved 1-1 draw with West Ham.
Unal stepped up from nearly 30 yards out to rifle the dead ball past a helpless Lukasz Fabianski, easing the sour taste in the hosts' mouths after falling behind to a controversial handball decision just minutes before.
“It's very sensitive, it's elegant from Unal,” said the assessment Sky Sports' Alan Smith.
The Cherries had been banging on West Ham's door since half-time – registering 17 shots in total – but looked to be frustrated by their hard-working visitors, who were blessed with good fortune then to find the opening itself.
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Lucas Paqueta is awarded a penalty to give West Ham the lead after a lengthy VAR review on Tyler Adams' handball
After substitute Nicklas Fullkrug curled a header straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga, VAR Michael Salisbury spotted a possible handball against Tyler Adams from Aaron Wan-Bissaka's first-time cross, and after a review long and Chris Kavanagh's trip to the monitor on the field, the referee pointed to the spot.
“I saw him on the big screen like most people and I thought he was tough, I know his hand is high but he is so close to the ball,” said Ryan Christie Sky Sports after that.
“Their striker is missing a sitter anyway, so that could be an advantage. We didn't get one in a similar position against Ipswich.”
Paqueta stepped up to head home to a chorus of boos around the Espionage Stadium, before Unal's free-kick moved the Cherries two points clear of fifth-placed Man City.
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Enes Unal leveled it for Bournemouth with a brilliant free-kick
Both sides had hit the woodwork earlier in the first period even before Fabianski was alert to deny first Evanilson and then Christie with two acrobatic stops as the Cherries built the pressure in the second, but the Hammers were worth the point after one of their own. most committed defensive performances of the season.
Iraola was concerned after a personal intervention of handball regulation
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Andoni Iraola said that the draw with West Ham was not a good result for Bournemouth and he was particularly disappointed with the decision to give the visitors a penalty late at night.
Bournemouth senior coach Israel to Sky Sports:
“I don't think it's a good result for us even if we got the goal at the end. We were better in the second half. I didn't like the first half. We were pushing to win and the penalty happened and we had to take the point I don't think it's a good point for us.
“The game went very slowly in the first half for us. We weren't brave enough to put them under real pressure. We improved in the second half but it wasn't enough to win.”
On West Ham's penalty: “I'm very disappointed. We have had this meeting before the season and I personally argued because they don't want the defenders to defend with their hands behind their backs.
“I told them, 'we're going to continue this because you're calling penalties'. They said, 'don't worry, it's a natural situation, we're not going to call it'. The first one, bam, I'm very disappointed. I complained about this rule.
Carra: 'Reasonable return' reduces stress on hammers
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football:
“Where West Ham were going into last Monday's game against Wolves, that's a good return as they have been for a lot of the season. I know we watched them beat Newcastle, but they were very lucky in that game.
“Then they had the Arsenal game, and Leicester – and it was a really bad one for them. We know how much they love a Monday night!
“I said before the game, if they had won tonight it would have felt like a big result but I think going away from Bournemouth, it's not a bad result.
“They'll be disappointed, they'll go 1-0 up and maybe they think they'll see the game out there, but they would have taken it before the game.”
Lopetegui: We competed very well at a difficult stadium
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Julen Lopetegui welcomed West Ham's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth and felt his players put up a tough challenge and created enough chances to win the game.
West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui to Sky Sports:
“I think it was a pity. We thought we would win in a difficult stadium. It was very close. In the first half we were better, in the second half we were they are one step ahead. They want a lot at home.
“We suffered a bit but we overcame this to score. It was an amazing goal from Unal. In the end it's one point. We were thinking about three points but we competed very well.”
