London Jan 16 (BUS): Jack Harrison scored a hat-trick as Leeds beat a long list of absentees to defeat West Ham 3-2 in the Premier League on Sunday.
West Ham responded twice through Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals, but Harrison’s third goal ended the London club’s four-game winning streak.
Leeds traveled to West Ham without nine first-team players – two more were injured before the break – and seven teenagers, including 15-year-old Archie Gray, were on the bench.
But unlike Arsenal, whose Sunday match at Tottenham has been postponed due to a shortage of players, Leeds coach Marcelo Bielsa said “we have no reasons to ask”.
The Hammers numbers are low, too, with Tomas Sucic once again missing out on COVID-19, and it looks like three games a week have caught them off guard.
Leeds lead in the tenth minute. Luke Ayling’s ball over the top sent Ravenha off the right side and found his cut Mateusz Klich in the area. Kelish’s shot was lost by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, but Adam Furshaw was the first to hit the ball and returned it back to Harrison’s shot into the net.
Leeds’ injury problems worsened midway through the first half when Forshaw and Junior Firpo were knocked out.
West Ham equalized in the 34th minute, as Bowen gave Stewart Dallas a slip to hit a corner kick from Aaron Cresswell into the net.
Leeds regained the lead almost immediately when Ayling hit a corner kick from Ravenna and Harrison pounced at the far post.
Dan James twice had the opportunity to extend the advantage in injury time in the first half, but he fired straight at Fabianski and then fired another wide opportunity.
Instead, West Ham equalized again seven minutes into the second half when Fornals Aaling and Pascal Strwick crossed in the area before Leeds goalkeeper Ian Meslier parried a clever volley.
But the match changed Leeds’ way again an hour later after Nikola Vlasic lost possession at the halfway line. Ravenha ran forward and sprayed a fine through ball to Harrison, who brilliantly raised his shot over Fabianski to complete a hat-trick.
Leeds moved to nine points above the relegation zone. West Ham remained in fourth place, two points behind Arsenal, after playing two more matches.
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