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Aston Villa and West Ham United played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at Villa Park, with both sides left to rue missed opportunities.
Jacob Ramsey’s early strike set the tone for a pulsating match, but Emerson’s second-half header salvaged a point for the visitors.
Villa made a blistering start and found the breakthrough in just the eighth minute. Jacob Ramsey surged into the box after a clever one-two with Ollie Watkins, slotting a left-footed finish beyond Alphonse Areola.
The hosts nearly doubled their advantage moments later, but Watkins’ glancing header from a Youri Tielemans free-kick narrowly missed the target.
Villa continued to pile on the pressure, with Leon Bailey and Boubacar Kamara both testing Areola.
West Ham struggled to find rhythm in the opening 45 minutes but had a few moments of their own. Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus were lively, with the latter forcing a crucial block from Tyrone Mings.
Emerson’s header ends the game in a draw at Villa Park ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/gsh66TR5yt
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 26, 2025
The Hammers’ best chance came when Lucas Paqueta fired wide after a set-piece scramble. Mings’ injury towards the end of the half, however, cast a shadow over Villa’s strong performance.
Trailing 1-0 at the break, the visitors came out with renewed intent. Villa’s defensive resilience was tested, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s marauding runs causing problems down the flank.
Kudus and Alvarez had efforts blocked, while Paqueta’s misfired overhead kick highlighted the Hammers’ growing desperation.
In the 70th minute, West Ham found their equaliser. A swift move involving Wan-Bissaka, Kudus, and Alvarez culminated in the latter delivering a sublime cross. Emerson arrived unmarked at the far post to nod the ball across Emiliano Martínez and into the far corner, sparking wild celebrations among the away fans.
The final 20 minutes saw end-to-end action as both sides pushed for a winner. Villa substitute Jhon Duran had a golden opportunity but skewed his shot wide after latching onto a loose ball.
Moments later, Danny Ings, a former Villa striker, nearly turned the game in West Ham’s favour with a low drive that flashed just past the post.
Villa’s Emiliano Buendia and Tielemans also came close, with the latter’s half-volley sailing over the bar. Paqueta, battling through injury, remained a threat for West Ham, creating a chance for Tomas Soucek, whose header went agonisingly over.
The seven minutes of added time only heightened the drama. Villa’s Buendia sent a half-volley into the Holte End, while Paqueta’s valiant efforts to chase a winner came to nought.
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