I made Premier League history with stunning West Ham goal that broke Tottenham hearts
Today at 07:00 AM
Tottenham vs West Ham isn’t necessarily an iconic Premier League rivalry but it’s had its fair share of memorable moments.
Spurs face the Hammers at Saturday lunchtime, live on talkSPORT, with both sides seeking improvement on underwhelming starts to their seasons.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host the London derby almost exactly four years to the day since Premier League history was made.
Manuel Lanzini etched himself into West Ham folklore with a one in a million strike that left fans in astonishment around the world.
Spurs appeared to be cruising towards their third league win of the 2020/21 campaign with a 3-0 lead after just 16 minutes at home to the Hammers.
Heung-min Son netted within 45 seconds of kick-off before two Harry Kane goals extended the advantage for Jose Mourinho’s side.
West Ham looked dead and buried before the end of the first-half but a spirited comeback ensured they left north London with a point.
A Fabian Balbuena header left Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris rooted to the spot and was followed by a Davinson Sanchez own-goal.
Then in the fourth minute of stoppage-time, an attempted clearance from Harry Winks allowed the ball to roll into the path of Lanzini.
The Argentine was around 25 yards from goal but he hit a blistering first-time shot off the woodwork and into Lloris’ top-right corner to make it 3-3.
Lanzini’s stunning strike sparked West Ham jubilation in the face of Spurs heartbreak and clinched a top-flight record.
West Ham became the first team in Premier League history to avoid defeat despite trailing by three or more goals as late as 81 minutes.
Unsurprisingly, Lanzini was mobbed by his teammates and even made boss David Moyes add to the celebrations by running onto the pitch.
His spectacular effort was also crowned as the Premier League Goal of the Month for October 2020.
Speaking to the club afterwards, he said: “Do you remember when we played Tottenham and Pedro Obiang scored a goal like a rocket [in 2018]?
“It was similar to that one and it was fantastic because we were 3-0 behind and we turned it around. It was perfect.
“I’ve wanted this for a long time. I am ready now, I am 100 per cent. I want to help the team and this was the moment.
“I love the fans, I love the Club, I’ve spent a lot of years here and it’s like my second home. We have a big squad, I am waiting for my opportunity and it was a fantastic goal.”
Seven months later, West Ham finished above Spurs in the table by three points to claim the final European qualification spot.
Lanzini left the club two years later and returned to River Plate in Argentina but will forever be held in high regard in east London.
West Ham fans will hope to see some equally impressive magic in north London this weekend as a win would see them overtake Spurs with eight league games played.
