Enes Unal’s stunning free-kick cancelled out Lucas Paqueta’s controversial VAR-awarded penalty to give Bournemouth a deserved 1-1 draw with West Ham.
Unal stepped up from almost 30 yards out to rifle the dead ball past a helpless Lukasz Fabianski, and lessen the sour taste in the hosts’ mouths after falling behind to a contentious handball decision only minutes earlier.
“It’s quite sensational, it’s magnificent from Unal,” was the assessment of Sky Sports’ Alan Smith.
The Cherries had knocked on the West Ham door since half-time – registering 17 shots in all – but had looked to be frustrated by their hard-working visitors, who were then handed a slice of good fortune to find the opener themselves.
After substitute Nicklas Fullkrug nodded a header straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga, VAR Michael Salisbury noticed a potential handball against Tyler Adams from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s initial cross, and following a lengthy review and Chris Kavanagh’s visit to the on-field monitor, the referee pointed to the spot.
“I saw it on the big screen like most people and thought it was harsh, I know his hand’s high but he’s so close to the ball,” Ryan Christie told Sky Sports afterwards.
“Their striker misses a sitter anyway afterwards, so there could be an advantage being played. We didn’t get one in a similar situation against Ipswich.”
Paqueta stepped up to slot home to a chorus of boos around the Vitality Stadium, before Unal’s free-kick moved the Cherries two points off Man City in fifth.
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Enes Unal makes it level for Bournemouth with a wonderful free-kick.
Both sides had earlier hit the woodwork in an even first period before Fabianski was alert to deny first Evanilson and then Christie with two acrobatic stops as the Cherries ramped up the pressure in the second, but the Hammers were well worth their point after one of their most committed defensive showings of the season.
Carra: ‘Decent return’ eases pressure 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 decent return considering where they’ve been for a lot of the season. I know we watched them beat Newcastle, but they were quite fortunate in that game.
“They then had the Arsenal game, and Leicester – and those were really bad ones for them. We know how much they enjoy Monday nights!
“I said before the game, if they won tonight it would’ve felt like a big result but I think to come away from Bournemouth, it’s not a bad result.
“They’ll be disappointed, they’ll go 1-0 up and probably think they see the game out there, but they would’ve taken it before the game.”