?? Match Overview: Chaos, Goals, and a Tactical Chess Match in East London
It was a game that had everything—goals, xG drama, and two teams that couldn’t be more different in how they played. West Ham somehow grabbed a 2-2 draw despite generating a mere 0.4 xG, while Bournemouth looked more incisive and threatening throughout, finishing with 2.1 xG and a clear edge in attacking intent. This wasn’t just a clash of footballers—it was a clash of footballing styles.
? Stat Breakdown: Bournemouth Create, West Ham Convert
Let’s look under the hood:
Shots: Bournemouth 11 – 8 West Ham
xG: Bournemouth 2.10 – 0.37 West Ham
Shots on Target: Bournemouth 4 – 3 West Ham
Possession: West Ham 56% – 44% Bournemouth
Touches in Box: Bournemouth 15 – 12 West Ham
Progressive Runs: Bournemouth 24 – 12 West Ham
The visitors were sharper and more direct with their chances. Bournemouth’s xG per shot was 0.191—almost four times more efficient than West Ham’s 0.046 per attempt.
? Match Momentum: Bournemouth Climb, West Ham Strike
The xG timeline shows Bournemouth applying pressure from the outset, with Evanilson opening the scoring in the 38th minute (xG 0.80) and doubling his tally in the 78th minute (xG 0.57). It looked like they were cruising to a deserved win, but West Ham had other ideas.
Two low-xG moments flipped the script: Niclas Füllkrug (xG 0.07) struck on the hour, and Jarrod Bowen (xG 0.11) equalized in the 68th. Neither goal came from a high-quality chance, but West Ham’s conversion rate was through the roof.
? Shot Maps & Clinical Finishing
Bournemouth’s shot map shows a team getting into prime areas, especially centrally inside the six-yard box. Two of their four on-target shots resulted in goals, with both goals carrying xG values over 0.5—a sign of well-worked attacking patterns.
West Ham’s goals, in contrast, came from the fringes of the penalty area, with no shot above 0.11 xG. Their finishing masked a lack of creativity.
The real gap? Bournemouth generated 5.7x more xG than their hosts and will feel robbed by the scoreline.
? Possession Tactics: Structure vs Chaos
West Ham’s pass map was heavy in central build-up, with Ward-Prowse, Sou?ek, and Alvarez operating in close triangles. The wide players, Kudus and Paquetà, offered balance but rarely received sustained supply. The structure was tidy but lacked punch in the final third.
Bournemouth, on the other hand, were more expansive. Their map shows vertical lanes with Huijsen and Adams pulling the strings from deep, and wide overloads from Kerkez and Ouattara. Evanilson acted as the central reference point and delivered—both in buildup and on the scoresheet.
? In the End…
Bournemouth will walk away wondering how they didn’t take all three points. Their xG, their movement, their fluidity—it all screamed “win.” West Ham, though, once again proved they can punch above their creative weight with some clinical, if slightly lucky, finishing.
One team dominated the data. The other clung to the result.