Match Analysis

Leicester vs West Ham: Match Report (December 3, 2024)

Final Score

Leicester 2-1 West Ham

The final score of the match was Leicester City 2, West Ham United 1. The key reasons behind this result were Leicester's early goal, their ability to withstand West Ham's pressure, and a late goal that sealed the victory. Jamie Vardy's early strike set the tone for Leicester, while West Ham struggled to convert their chances despite dominating large portions of the game.

Key Moments

Early Goal by Jamie Vardy (2nd Minute): Jamie Vardy scored within the first two minutes, giving Leicester an early lead. The goal was initially flagged offside but was awarded after a VAR review, setting the stage for Leicester's victory.
West Ham's First-Half Pressure: West Ham dominated the remainder of the first half, creating several chances. Mads Hermansen, Leicester's goalkeeper, made crucial saves, including three from Jarrod Bowen, to keep Leicester in the lead.
Disallowed Goal for West Ham: Tomas Soucek's header into the side-netting was celebrated by West Ham fans, but it was not a goal. Later, Soucek was involved in a controversial moment when a potential equalizer was disallowed due to a foul on Hermansen.
Leicester's Second Goal (El Khannouss): Bilal El Khannouss scored Leicester's second goal, stretching to reach Kasey McAteer's pass and guiding it into the bottom corner, effectively securing the win for Leicester.
Late Drama and Disallowed Goal: Substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid thought he had scored Leicester's third goal, but it was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

Notable Performances

Jamie Vardy: Vardy's early goal and overall performance were crucial for Leicester. His experience and composure in front of goal provided Leicester with a strong start.
Mads Hermansen: The Leicester goalkeeper was instrumental in maintaining the lead, making several key saves, particularly in the first half.
Jarrod Bowen: Despite being on the losing side, Bowen was a constant threat for West Ham, creating numerous chances and testing Hermansen multiple times.

Tactical Overview

Leicester City

Ruud van Nistelrooy, in his first game as Leicester's manager, opted for an aggressive 4-3-3 formation. The team focused on high pressing and quick transitions, aiming to exploit West Ham's defensive vulnerabilities. The early goal allowed Leicester to settle into a more defensive posture, absorbing pressure and hitting on the counter.

West Ham United

Julen Lopetegui set up West Ham in a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on defensive solidity and counter-attacks. Despite dominating possession and creating chances, West Ham struggled to break down Leicester's defense. The introduction of Crysencio Summerville added pace, but it was too late to change the outcome.

Pre-match Analysis Review

The pre-match analysis predicted a 2-1 victory for Leicester, which was accurate. The analysis correctly highlighted Leicester's home advantage and the potential impact of Van Nistelrooy's "new manager bounce." It also noted West Ham's defensive frailties and Leicester's attacking threats, which played out as expected.

However, the analysis underestimated West Ham's ability to dominate possession and create chances. While it predicted both teams would score, it did not fully anticipate the extent of West Ham's pressure and Leicester's reliance on Hermansen's goalkeeping heroics.

Overall, the pre-match analysis was close to the actual result, accurately predicting the scoreline and key dynamics of the game.