Garth Crooks has showered West Ham star Andriy Yarmolenko after his opening goal for the Irons this weekend in their 2-1 win against Aston Villa.
Writing on BBC Sport, the pundit was moved by the attacker’s strike, with Yarmolenko bursting into tears after putting West Ham ahead in what has been one of the most difficult periods in recent history for Ukrainian nationals.
Yarmolenko has not scored this season, so to bag his first goal of the campaign during this current climate was something that will go down as one of the moments of the year for the West Ham forward, who was spectacular against Villa.
The win revived the Irons’ chances of top-four with Tottenham dropping points this weekend against Manchester United. Yet whilst West Ham secured the win against Villa, Yarmolenko’s goal and the emotions it produced was the real highlight of the match.
The 106-cap Ukrainian international has been a star for his national, with Yarmolenko also making huge financial donations to the country following Russia’s barbaric invasion. And for Crooks, his goal this weekend was a real highlight.
The pundit said: “Football has a habit of throwing up moments like this but to see an entire stadium rise to its feet in admiration of Yarmolenko’s goal and strength of purpose is about as good as football gets. This was an excellent win for the Hammers and keeps them in the hunt for a top-four finish.”
Yarmolenko goal highlight of the week in the Premier League
It is impossible to put into words what Yarmolenko must have felt after scoring West Ham’s opener this weekend. Here is a player who is watching his country fall to a superpower led by a madman, and still he has the mental strength to go out and deliver when it matters most.
The brewing war in Ukraine has been a stark reminder that everything beyond the realm of sport is bigger than football. And for Yarmolenko, his goal was easily the highlight this weekend in another week blighted by Russia’s invasion of their neighbouring country.
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