Report

McBurnie scores latest-ever PL goal to earn Sheff Utd DRAMATIC point

21 Jan 2024
McBurnie

Forward nets penalty in 13th minute of stoppage time after TWO late red cards in 2-2 thriller with West Ham

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Oliver McBurnie scored the latest goal in Premier League history to earn Sheffield United a dramatic point as they drew 2-2 with West Ham United.

Maxwel Cornet gave the Hammers a first-half lead, but Sheff Utd equalised through Ben Brereton Diaz, both players scoring their first goal for their respective clubs, with Brereton Diaz netting on his Premier League debut. 

James Ward-Prowse’s penalty looked set to give West Ham all three points, but after both sides were reduced to 10 men in second-half stoppage time, McBurnie converted a penalty in the 13th minute of stoppage time to give the hosts a deserved point. 

Timeline of a thrilling finish

90+3 Rhian Brewster sent off
90+7 Vladimir Coufal sent off
90+8 Penalty conceded by Alphonse Areola
90+12 Lukasz Fabianski replaces injured Areola
90+13 Oli McBurnie converts penalty

How the match unfolded

Chris Wilder made five changes from the side that beat Gillingham 4-0 in the FA Cup third round, with January signing Brereton Diaz handed his Premier League debut, while Auston Trusty, Jayden Bogle, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Vinicius Souza returned to the starting XI.

As for West Ham United, manager David Moyes made three alterations from the side that was knocked out of the FA Cup by Bristol City in midweek, with Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals recovering from injury to start, while goalkeeper Alphonse Areola came in for Lukasz Fabianski.

After a cagey opening, Vinicius Souza's long-range strike forced a save from Areola before Danny Ings shot wide as the match sprung into life. 

Trusty missed a glorious opportunity to give Sheff Utd the lead on 27 minutes, but his free header from a corner was comfortably saved by Areola.

The home side were made to pay a minute later as West Ham took the lead through Cornet.  

Ings’ shot was blocked from the edge of the box, but the rebound fell to Cornet, who lashed a powerful low volley into the back of the net to score his first goal for the Hammers.

Maxwel Cornet first goal

West Ham nearly doubled their lead five minutes before half-time when Bowen got in behind the Sheff Utd defence and cut the ball back for Ings, whose shot was blocked.  

The Blades levelled in the 44th minute through Brereton Diaz, who reacted quickest to smash in from 10 yards after Areola could only parry William Osula’s header.

Diaz first goal

Sheff Utd started the second half brightly, with Brereton Diaz missing a great chance to put the hosts in front, scuffing his shot wide after being played in by the impressive James McAtee.

West Ham were awarded a penalty with 12 minutes remaining after Gustavo Hamer fouled Ings, and Ward-Prowse buried his spot-kick down the middle to restore the visitors’ lead. 

James goal

Sheff Utd’s hopes of an equaliser looked to be over when substitute Rhian Brewster was sent off in stoppage time.

The forward was initially shown a yellow card by referee Michael Salisbury for a reckless tackle on West Ham defender Emerson, but it was upgraded to a red card following a VAR review.

West Ham were then reduced to 10 men, with Vladimir Coufal receiving a second yellow card in the seventh minute of added time for a foul on McAtee, only four minutes after being cautioned.

That seemed to unsettle West Ham and Sheff Utd were awarded a penalty a minute later after Areola fouled McBurnie. 

With Areola injured in the incident, Fabianski, who ranks third all-time for Premier League penalty saves, with 11, was brought on by Moyes.

But facing former Swansea City team-mate McBurnie, the Pole was unable to keep out the Sheff Utd forward’s powerful low strike from the spot.

Mcburnie goal

It was the latest goal scored in the Premier League since records began in 2006/07, eclipsing Dirk Kuyt’s 102nd-minute penalty for Liverpool against Arsenal in the 12th minute of stoppage time back in 2011.

McBurnie, meanwhile, scored in a fourth consecutive home Premier League appearance, extending his club-record streak in the competition. 

Incredibly, this was the first Premier League game since Chelsea v Aston Villa in 2007 to see both sides have at least one player sent off and both sides receive at least one penalty each.

Despite picking up a point, Sheff Utd remain bottom with 10 points, seven behind 17th-placed Everton.

The battle to stay up

Position Pos Club Played Pl GD Points Pts
17 Nott'm Forest NFO 38 -18 32
18 Luton LUT 38 -33 26
19 Burnley BUR 38 -37 24
20 Sheffield Utd SHU 38 -69 16
See full table

West Ham extend their unbeaten run to five matches and stay sixth on 35 points. 

The race for Europe

Position Pos Club Played Pl GD Points Pts
5 Spurs TOT 38 +13 66
6 Chelsea CHE 38 +14 63
7 Newcastle NEW 38 +23 60
8 Man Utd MUN 38 -1 60
See full table
Next five Premier League fixtures
Key facts

Sheff Utd conceded their 50th and 51st Premier League goals of the season, becoming just the third side to concede at least 50 goals in 21 games or fewer from the start of a single campaign in the competition, after Barnsley in 1997/98 (19 games) and West Bromwich Albion in 2020/21 (21).

Since losing to Nottingham Forest in August 2022, West Ham United are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League matches against promoted sides (W8 D1).

Cornet netted his first goal for West Ham in what was his 31st appearance for them in all competitions. Indeed, it was his first goal away from home in the Premier League since January 2022 for Burnley against Leeds, while he’s netted in two of his last four starts in the competition home and away.

Brereton Diaz was the third different debutant to score for Sheff Utd in the Premier League this season, alongside Hamer and Archer. Indeed, the Blades had only had five different debutants score in their five previous Premier League campaigns before 2023/24 (1992/93, 1993/94, 2006/07, 2019/20 and 2020/21).

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