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Hull City 3-3 West Ham United: Six-Goal Thriller Ends In A Stalemate

Entertaining game ends in a draw...

Nov 21, 2009 4:45:00 PM

EPL: Kamil Zayatte, Hull City v West Ham United (Getty Images)

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EPL: Kamil Zayatte, Hull City v West Ham United (Getty Images)

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Hull City and West Ham United played out an entertaining draw at the KC Stadium, where the fans witnessed a plethora of goals and a red card to add to the flavour of a battle between two clubs hoping to stay away from the basement of the Premier League.

Gianfranco Zola's charges took an early lead through goals from Guillermo Franco and Jack Collison, but the hosts came back strongly to race ahead through a brace from Jimmy Bullard that sandwiched one from Kamil Zayatte. Manuel da Costa put the teams back on par during the second period to ensure that his side got a share of the spoils.

The Tigers made only once change from the side that beat Stoke City in the last round, as Dean Marney got a look in owing to an injury that kept Seyi Olofinjana out of this encounter. Geovanni was available after serving a suspension, but had to make do with a spot on the bench.

Meanwhile, the visitors were given a big boost as striker Carlton Cole shook off a hamstring injury to make it in time for this game.

The travellers began on a positive note and forced Phil Brown's charges to concede a corner. Junior Stanislas swung one in to find Franco, who had no trouble heading the ball into the corner.

Jimmy Bullard had a go at the other end, when he cut across and unleashed a strike from 35 yards out, but it flew wide of the target.

After 10 minutes of play, the situation at the KC Stadium went from bad to worse when Franco sent a ball into the area, where Collison rose above Andy Dawson to nod the ball home. The defending should have been better on that occasion.

The Tigers slowly settled into a rhythm and began to claw their way back into the game with a fair amount of possession, but were found to be lacking in the creativity department as their attacks were thwarted before reaching fruition.

But a little before the 30 minute mark, the hosts scored under fortuitous circumstances, when a free-kick from Bullard took a deflection from the wall, and then another from Cole, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

As the game approached half-time, the home side managed to draw level owing to a superb finish from Zayatte from a free-kick taken by Stephen Hunt.

A sensational comeback was complete in added time, when the referee signalled for a penalty after Julien Faubert was deemed to have unfairly challenged Craig Fagan. Bullard stepped up to the hot-plate and blasted the ball home, much to the cheer of the home fans.

Upon resumption of play, the unabated action continued as Bernard Mendy was sent off for a challenge on Scott Parker, since the midfielder would have been through on goal if not for the foul. The manager immediately replenished the back line by bringing on a defender in place of a midfielder, as Paul McShane came on for Richard Garcia.

In the meantime, Gianfranco Zola replaced Valon Behrami with Zavon Hines as his side tried to push forward and make the numbers count.

With a little over 20 minutes to go, the east London club put the game back in the balance, when Manuel da Costa put the ball past the 'keeper and into the bottom right corner from Stanislas' corner-kick.

The game ebbed and throbbed both ways, but neither team could get the final ball that could have helped secure all three points. As the man in charge brought the proceedings to a halt, both sides took a point away from a game that was there for the winning.

Adithya Ananth, Goal.com UK

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