West Ham secured a vital 2-0 away victory over Burnley at Turf Moor, with early goals from Crysencio Summerville and Valentín Castellanos settling the Premier League clash.
This match carried significant weight for both struggling teams. Burnley, sitting 19th in the table, desperately needed points to avoid relegation. West Ham, only one spot above them in 18th, aimed to create some breathing room.
The Hammers started the encounter with sharp intent. Their early pressure paid off quickly. In the 13th minute, Crysencio Summerville found the net. Mateus Fernandes delivered a precise assist, allowing Summerville to convert.
Burnley’s struggles deepened soon after. Midfielder Florentino received a yellow card for a cynical foul in the 24th minute. This disruption seemed to rattle the home side's composure.
Just two minutes later, West Ham extended their lead. Valentín Castellanos struck in the 26th minute, doubling the advantage. El Hadji Malick Diouf set up Castellanos with a well-placed pass, putting the visitors firmly in control.
Despite conceding twice, Burnley attempted to push back. However, West Ham’s defence held firm. El Hadji Malick Diouf was cautioned with a yellow card for holding in the 41st minute, a minor blot for the visitors.
At half-time, Burnley faced a significant challenge, trailing by two goals. Manager Vincent Kompany surely called for a stronger response. West Ham, meanwhile, focused on maintaining their defensive discipline and seeing out the game.
The home side introduced a change at the break, with Florentino making way for Josh Laurent. This substitution showed Burnley's urgency to shift the game’s momentum. They pressed higher in the second half.
Burnley continued to chase the game, making a triple substitution around the 67th minute. Marcel Edwards, Jaidon Anthony, and Zian Flemming all entered the fray. These changes aimed to inject fresh attacking impetus.
However, West Ham’s resilient backline and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen proved impenetrable. Hermansen delivered a superb performance, making five crucial saves to deny Burnley. The Clarets collected two more yellow cards for fouls through Bashir Humphreys and Laurent.
Ultimately, West Ham’s early clinical finishing made the difference. They converted two of their four shots on target from six total attempts. Burnley, despite commanding 53% possession and firing 18 shots, found the target only five times, failing to score, with an xG of 1.3 to West Ham's 0.98.
This critical victory sees West Ham gain precious ground in the Premier League table. They temporarily climb out of the immediate relegation places. Burnley, however, remains stuck in 19th position, facing an increasingly difficult battle for survival.
