West Ham United went into intermission up a goal, overcoming a first half controlled by Fulham thanks to two late first half goals. Building on Carlton Cole's opener, Frederic Piquionne gave West Ham a 2-1 lead, moving unmarked to Mark Schwarzer's far post on play following a corner, meeting a Scott Parker cross to give the Hammers a lead.
Fulham Vs. West Ham United: Frederic Piquionne Gives Hammers Halftime Lead
The corner was won after Cole nearly gave West Ham a lead, being fed behind the Fulham defense on a Hammers counter attack, his right footed show from the right of goal meeting an oncoming Schwarzer. On the resulting corner, Park was allowed time on the ball no West Ham's left flank, and just as the defense was starting to raise their line, Piquionne ran between Brede Hangeland and Carlos Salcido at the far post. Parker swung his ball in, perfectly dropping onto Piquionne's right foot, allowing the French striker an easy redirection for the go-ahead goal.
The absent-minded defending from Fulham gives West Ham a shock halftime lead. Fulham had looked the better side throughout the match, though in hindsight, the Cottagers now seem to have generated few opportunities. For their large possession advantage, Robert Green has rarely been tested, with Fulham's best chances fizzling as miss-timed opportunities to get on the end of crosses.
That’s not to say Fulham should have seen West Ham’s goals coming. The first was an unforeseeable error by one of their own. The second was less Hammer ingenuity than Cottagers’ failure to defend a basic play. Regardless, Fulham trails the league’s bottom side after 45 minutes, the Hammers taking a 2-1 lead into intermission.
See More:
