LONDON: The first Premier League game staged at the centerpiece stadium of the London Olympics in 2012 served up some late drama Sunday, with new tenant West Ham scoring in the 85th minute to earn a 1-0 win over 10-man Bournemouth.
Track-and-field stars like Usain Bolt and David Rudisha produced some amazing memories at the Olympic Stadium — now known simply as London Stadium — four years ago, but this match was forgettable until a flurry of incidents in the latter stages.
Bournemouth was left a man short by Harry Arter’s sending-off in the 77th, and West Ham took advantage when winger Michail Antonio met an inviting left-wing cross by Gokhan Tore with a header at the far post.
“I did say to him two minutes before the goal, ‘Go and be a hero,’” West Ham captain Mark Noble said about Antonio. “He went, and was one.”
West Ham then needed a reaction save from goalkeeper Adrian followed by a clearance from near the goal-line to preserve its first league win at the team’s new home. Having waved an emotional goodbye to Upton Park last season after 112 years there, West Ham is in the first year of the club’s tenancy at the London Stadium and will take time to get used to the new surroundings.
Decimated by injuries to many of its key players, including Dimitri Payet, Andy Carroll, Manuel Lanzini and new record signing Andre Ayew, West Ham also had to cope with a tough week that saw them play Chelsea on Monday — losing 2-1 to a late goal — and then travel to Romania for a Europa League qualifier on Thursday. The threadbare squad returned to London in the early hours of Friday.
“It wasn’t a great game of football,” West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said. “We didn’t expect to play like Brazil.”
Bournemouth has lost both of its games in the league so far, having opened with a 3-1 home defeat to Manchester United.
Sunderland, and its new manager David Moyes, is also looking for its first point after a 2-1 loss to northeast rival Middlesbrough in the other game Sunday.
Uruguay striker Cristhian Stuani scored both of Middlesbrough’s first-half goals, the first a 25-meter screamer into the top corner in the 13th before finishing off a flowing team move in the 45th.
Patrick van Aanholt pulled a goal back in the 71st for Sunderland.
Bremen knocked out of German Cup, Leverkusen progresses
Third-division side Sportfreunde Lotte knocked six-time champion Werder Bremen out of the German Cup with a 2-1 victory, while Bayer Leverkusen progressed from the first round Sunday.
Matthias Rahn fired Lotte into an early lead, Zlatko Junuzovic equalized, but Andre Dej claimed what proved to be the winner in the 55th minute. Bremen’s Fin Bartels was sent off late.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez scored and set up Karim Bellarabi’s goal as Leverkusen edged past fifth-tier SC Hauenstein 2-1. Andjelo Srzentic’s late goal for Hauenstein ensured a nervy finish with Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno forced to make a number of saves.
Antonio-Mirko Colak scored a hat trick as Darmstadt routed fifth-tier Bremer SV 7-0, Hoffenheim won 6-0 at fourth-tier FC Germania Egestorf/Langreder and second-division side Greuther Fuerth won 4-1 at fourth-tier Eintracht Norderstedt.
Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz both needed penalties to get past lower-league opposition.
Mainz defeated fourth-tier Unterhaching 4-2 in the shootout after their game ended 3-3 following extra time.
Guillermo Varela scored the winning penalty as Frankfurt beat third-division Magdeburg 4-3 with the game tied 1-1 after extra time. Frankfurt defender Michael Hector earned a second yellow card in extra time, and the game was held up in normal time due to fan disturbances, with police forced to intervene.
Fourth-tier side Astoria Walldorf upset second-division Bochum with two goals in extra time for a 4-3 win, and second-division Union Berlin won 2-1 at third-tier MSV Duisburg thanks to an own goal in extra time.
Track-and-field stars like Usain Bolt and David Rudisha produced some amazing memories at the Olympic Stadium — now known simply as London Stadium — four years ago, but this match was forgettable until a flurry of incidents in the latter stages.
Bournemouth was left a man short by Harry Arter’s sending-off in the 77th, and West Ham took advantage when winger Michail Antonio met an inviting left-wing cross by Gokhan Tore with a header at the far post.
“I did say to him two minutes before the goal, ‘Go and be a hero,’” West Ham captain Mark Noble said about Antonio. “He went, and was one.”
West Ham then needed a reaction save from goalkeeper Adrian followed by a clearance from near the goal-line to preserve its first league win at the team’s new home. Having waved an emotional goodbye to Upton Park last season after 112 years there, West Ham is in the first year of the club’s tenancy at the London Stadium and will take time to get used to the new surroundings.
Decimated by injuries to many of its key players, including Dimitri Payet, Andy Carroll, Manuel Lanzini and new record signing Andre Ayew, West Ham also had to cope with a tough week that saw them play Chelsea on Monday — losing 2-1 to a late goal — and then travel to Romania for a Europa League qualifier on Thursday. The threadbare squad returned to London in the early hours of Friday.
“It wasn’t a great game of football,” West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said. “We didn’t expect to play like Brazil.”
Bournemouth has lost both of its games in the league so far, having opened with a 3-1 home defeat to Manchester United.
Sunderland, and its new manager David Moyes, is also looking for its first point after a 2-1 loss to northeast rival Middlesbrough in the other game Sunday.
Uruguay striker Cristhian Stuani scored both of Middlesbrough’s first-half goals, the first a 25-meter screamer into the top corner in the 13th before finishing off a flowing team move in the 45th.
Patrick van Aanholt pulled a goal back in the 71st for Sunderland.
Bremen knocked out of German Cup, Leverkusen progresses
Third-division side Sportfreunde Lotte knocked six-time champion Werder Bremen out of the German Cup with a 2-1 victory, while Bayer Leverkusen progressed from the first round Sunday.
Matthias Rahn fired Lotte into an early lead, Zlatko Junuzovic equalized, but Andre Dej claimed what proved to be the winner in the 55th minute. Bremen’s Fin Bartels was sent off late.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez scored and set up Karim Bellarabi’s goal as Leverkusen edged past fifth-tier SC Hauenstein 2-1. Andjelo Srzentic’s late goal for Hauenstein ensured a nervy finish with Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno forced to make a number of saves.
Antonio-Mirko Colak scored a hat trick as Darmstadt routed fifth-tier Bremer SV 7-0, Hoffenheim won 6-0 at fourth-tier FC Germania Egestorf/Langreder and second-division side Greuther Fuerth won 4-1 at fourth-tier Eintracht Norderstedt.
Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz both needed penalties to get past lower-league opposition.
Mainz defeated fourth-tier Unterhaching 4-2 in the shootout after their game ended 3-3 following extra time.
Guillermo Varela scored the winning penalty as Frankfurt beat third-division Magdeburg 4-3 with the game tied 1-1 after extra time. Frankfurt defender Michael Hector earned a second yellow card in extra time, and the game was held up in normal time due to fan disturbances, with police forced to intervene.
Fourth-tier side Astoria Walldorf upset second-division Bochum with two goals in extra time for a 4-3 win, and second-division Union Berlin won 2-1 at third-tier MSV Duisburg thanks to an own goal in extra time.
