Lesley Ugochukwu scored a stoppage-time equaliser as already-relegated Southampton earned a spirited 1-1 draw away at West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.
West Ham took the lead early in the second half but were ultimately denied a much-needed victory, extending their winless run. Southampton, meanwhile, secured their 11th point of the campaign.
The first half was largely frustrating for the hosts at the London Stadium. Despite an early chance for Niclas Füllkrug, saved by Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, West Ham struggled to create openings. Southampton looked the more threatening side before the break, with Kyle Walker-Peters shooting wide and Kamaldeen Sulemana striking the crossbar. The home fans voiced their displeasure as the teams walked off goalless at halftime.
West Ham responded immediately after the restart, taking the lead within two minutes. A swift counter-attack saw Füllkrug release Jarrod Bowen, who finished clinically inside the far post for his 10th goal in all competitions this season.
Füllkrug thought he had doubled the lead midway through the second half, but his close-range finish from a corner was disallowed for a foul on Ramsdale.
Southampton continued to battle and were rewarded in the 92nd minute. Chelsea loanee Ugochukwu latched onto a loose ball following a cross and smashed a volley past Alphonse Areola, sparking celebrations among the travelling supporters.
The draw moves West Ham up to 16th place with 36 points. Southampton remain bottom with 11 points. While they have now matched Derby County’s record low points tally from the 2007-08 season, the Saints still have five remaining fixtures to surpass that unwanted landmark.
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