Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi bagged a brace in Fulham’s 3-2 defeat against West Ham United at the London Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Despite the loss, Iwobi’s display underlined his growing influence this season, as he netted his sixth and seventh league goals, setting a new personal record for the highest goal tally in a Premier League campaign.
This performance also marked the first time the 28-year-old reached double figures in goal contributions (10+ G/A) in a single season, showcasing his most prolific form to date, and it’s only January.
A game of close calls
Fulham started brightly, with Iwobi making an impact as early as the sixth minute. His clever pass to Harry Wilson nearly resulted in a goal, but Wilson’s shot rattled the bar. Moments like these proved costly as West Ham capitalized on their chances.
Carlos Soler opened the scoring for the Hammers in the 31st minute with a precise finish into the bottom corner.
Two minutes later, Tomáš Souček doubled the lead, leaving Fulham with an uphill task.
Iwobi, however, didn’t relent. In the 36th minute, he whipped in a dangerous cross that Raúl Jiménez met with a header, only to see it cannon off the bar again.
Iwobi’s brilliance wasn’t enough
The second half saw the Super Eagles star drag Fulham back into contention. In the 51st minute, he unleashed a stunning long-range strike, assisted by Antonee Robinson, to make it 2-1.
West Ham restored their two-goal cushion through Lucas Paquetá in the 67th minute, but Iwobi wasn’t done.
In the 78th minute, he struck again with another brilliant effort, once again set up by Robinson.
Substituted off in the 85th minute, Iwobi finished with 61 touches, five key passes, and a remarkable 81% pass accuracy.
Fulham ultimately fell short, but the former Arsenal man’s heroics were a reminder of his rising stature in the Premier League.
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