Leeds 1 West Ham 2 - BBC 25/9/21

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Michail Antonio's 90th-minute winner left Leeds still searching for a first Premier League win of the season as they were beaten by West Ham at Elland Road.

In a match that saw 35 attempts on goal, Marcelo Bielsa's side had the better chances in the first half but the visitors grew into the game as excitement turned to nerves among the home fans in a cagey encounter.

Raphinha had opened the scoring for Leeds on 19 minutes with a clinical low finish from outside the area.

West Ham thought they had equalised eight minutes into the second half, but Tomas Soucek's effort was ruled out after referee Kevin Friend checked the pitchside monitor and spotted an Antonio foul on goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

The Hammers eventually found a way through when Jarrod Bowen's shot from inside the box deflected off Junior Firpo and into the back of the net.

In the first minute of injury time, Leeds were caught out on the counter-attack as Antonio knocked the ball past defender Jamie Shackleton before sliding in the winner to push the hosts into the bottom three.

This is only the second time in Leeds' history that they have failed to win any of their first six games of a top-flight campaign - it last happened in 1935-36.

Antonio back with a bang

After serving a one-match suspension and missing last weekend's defeat by Manchester United, Antonio returned to show West Ham what they had been missing.

Before Saturday's game, he was on a run of nine games against Leeds without a goal. He had not faced any opponent more often without scoring.

And it looked like being another frustrating afternoon for the Hammers' Premier League top scorer with only three shots on target as Leeds goalkeeper Meslier pulled off a string of saves to deny him.

There was further anguish when Soucek's equaliser was ruled out after VAR showed Antonio had clattered Meslier in the face with his arm in the build-up.

There was a lengthy stoppage with the Leeds keeper requiring treatment and a change of shirt, and it seemed to spark a shift in momentum as the Hammers went on to dominate.

After a slice of luck for their first goal - Bowen's shot deflecting off Liam Cooper on to Junior Firpo's backside and past Meslier - David Moyes' side had a number of more orthodox chances to score a second.

Aaron Cresswell and Said Benrahma came close, but it was Antonio who eventually came up with the goods after some brilliant work from Declan Rice.

The England international picked up the ball inside his own half before knocking it inside to Antonio, who took a touch past his man and stroked it into the bottom corner for his fifth league goal of the season.

Defeat sees Leeds drop to 18th in the table with three points from their opening six games, one of five Premier League sides still searching for a win.

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