UNAL'S HIGH BENCHMARK
Daily Star|December 17, 2024
Sub Enes levels with special free-kick
ALEX CROOK
UNAL'S HIGH BENCHMARK

ENES UNAL'S sensational 90th-minute free-kick rescued Bournemouth a point and denied under-pressure West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui a much-needed victory.

Lucas Paqueta looked to have won it for Lopetegui's Hammers with a coolly converted 87th-minute penalty, only for the Cherries to come up with another late goal salvo of their own courtesy of supersub Unal's majestic 25-yard curler.

Unal's wonder strike was the least Bournemouth deserved after being thwarted by a string of fine saves from West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

The travelling fans taunted their hosts with chants of, "Champions of Europe, you'll never sing that", yet the hosts knew a fourth straight victory would propel them into the dizzying heights of fifth place in the table.

This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of Daily Star.

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This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of Daily Star.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.