Ward-Prowse on target as West Ham beat Brighton 3-1 to go top

Soccer Football – Premier League – Brighton & Hove Albion v West Ham United – The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain – August 26, 2023 West Ham United’s James Ward-Prowse fouls Brighton & Hove Albion’s Billy Gilmour Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers Acquire Licensing Rights

BRIGHTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) – James Ward-Prowse netted his first goal for West Ham United and Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio added second-half strikes as they notched a thumping 3-1 Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion to climb to the top of the standings on Saturday.

Brighton, who topped the table after two 4-1 wins in their opening two games, dominated possession and registered 26 attempts on goal, but West Ham made the most of what little possession they had to grab the win.

Antonio had the game’s first effort on target in the sixth minute as he latched on to a perfect angled pass from Lucas Paqueta, but his shot lacked power and was easily saved by keeper Bart Verbruggen, who was making his debut for Brighton.

The new keeper only managed to keep his clean sheet intact for 19 minutes as Antonio forced Adam Webster into a poor back-pass before feeding the ball to Ward-Prowse, who bundled it home at the second attempt.

The goal was his first since arriving from Southampton in August and his 50th overall in the Premier League.

Bowen added the second in the 58th minute, controlling a brilliant cross-field pass from Said Benrahma before swiftly tucking the ball home at the foot of the far post.

Excelling in the lone striker role, Antonio rifled home a low drive to make it 3-0 five minutes later, but Pascal Gross drilled a low shot into the far corner to make it 3-1 in the 81st minute to throw Brighton a lifeline.

Brighton had plenty of chances late on, but keeper Alphonse Areola pulled off some superb saves as the Hammers held on to record their first Premier League win over the Seagulls at the 13th attempt.

West Ham are level with Tottenham and Arsenal on seven points and top the standings on goals scored while Brighton slipped to fourth on six points.

Hammers striker Antonio was delighted to see his side come away with a win.

“They crossed a lot of balls and created a lot of chances. Alphonse (Areola) was unbelievable today, when we had opportunities, we took them,” he told Sky Sports.

Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi said the first goal knocked his side out of their stride.

“It was a strange goal, then we shot 25 times at their goal but we didn’t find the goal, and on the counter-attack they scored the second goal,” he told Sky Sports.

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