Michail Antonio scored the only goal of the game against Bournemouth on Sunday.
West Ham United’s Michail Antonio celebrates scoring their first goal at the London Stadium
Michail Antonio has told West Ham’s official club website that he will tell his kids about scoring the first ever Premier League goal at the London Stadium.
Antonio scored the only goal of the game in a relatively even encounter at West Ham’s new home.
The Hammers had already made their bow at the new stadium in pre-season against Italian giants Juventus, where they lost 3-2, and also competitively in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League, overcoming Slovenian side Domzale 3-0 earlier this month.
Antonio rose well to head home from a couple of yards out
But Antonio’s strike was one to savour, as it was the first Premier League goal to be scored at the 57,000 capacity arena, although it came very late on in a game that threatened to fire blanks.
With little under five minutes to go, Antonio managed to leap onto the end of a Gokhan Tore cross to head home a winner that was greeted by ecstatic Hammers fans.
And it was a goal that the former Nottingham Forest forward would remember for years to come.
West Ham’s new home
“It feels amazing to be the first Premier League goalscorer at London Stadium and it’s one of those things I can always tell my kids,” he said after the game.
“I had an interview last year and I was asked if I’d rather be the last goalscorer at the Boleyn Ground or the first goalscorer here – I said both, but this is a great feeling!
“It’s always great to be in history and especially so as the goal won us the match.”
Absent: West Ham’s Dimitri Payet
West Ham were without Dimitri Payet for the visit of Bournemouth, although he is expected to be fit for the Hammers’ Europa League clash against Astra Giurgiu on Thursday.
The Hammers take a precious away goal into the second leg, with the aggregate score 1-1 after last week’s first leg in Romania.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
