Enner Valencia and Sergio Aguero both scored twice as West Ham United and Manchester City shared the points in a 2-2 draw in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
The Hammers looked on course to complete the league double over Man City for the first time since the 1962-63 season after Valencia scored his second in the 56th minute, but Aguero completed his brace late on to ensure that the visitors left with a point.
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It took less than one minute for West Ham to make the breakthrough in the capital - Valencia firing a Cheikhou Kouyate cross past Joe Hart to send the home supporters into jubilation.
Aguero came close to levelling the scores in the seventh minute, but his effort from a wide angle hit the post. The Argentine was not to be denied, however, and netted from the penalty spot two minutes later after Carl Jenkinson had clumsily brought the striker to the ground inside the box.
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The match settled in the 10-minute period that followed, but it was Man City that were forcing the issue in the final third, with David Silva picking up holes and threatening with a couple of low crosses into the West Ham box.
Dimitri Payet must have thought that he had sent West Ham back ahead 11 minutes before the break when he curled a free kick towards the top corner, but Hart flew across his goal to make the stop.
The Hammers continued to press for a second in the latter stages of the first period, but the two teams entered the interval on terms following a pulsating opening 45 minutes in the English capital.
West Ham had the first real chance of the second period, but Michail Antonio could only head wide of the post after meeting a cross from Mark Noble, who had been set up by Payet. Moments later, Fabian Delph hit the post with a low strike down the other end.
Slaven Bilic's side took the lead for the second time in the match in the 56th minute, however, when Valencia collected a long throw from Antonio before shrugging off Nicolas Otamendi and finishing into the back of the net.
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Alex Song's speculative effort in the 65th minute almost caught out Hart for 3-1, but the Cameroon midfielder's effort just dropped wide of the post as Man City continued to struggle in a defensive area.
Aguero remained the away side's biggest threat and came close in the 72nd minute after meeting a cross from Bacary Sagna, but the Argentine's header just dropped wide of Adrian's post. Aguero did have his second in the 81st minute, however, when the striker made use of a deflection in his favour before coolly finding the back of the net.
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Nikica Jelavic had a couple of half-chances for the hosts late on during a period where Man City were in control, but it was Aguero and Kouyate that both had excellent opportunities to win it. The former, however, struck straight at Adrian from close range, before the latter hit the crossbar with a header in what was the final piece of action.
West Ham have missed the chance to move above Manchester United and remain sixth in the Premier League table, while the point is enough to move Man City above Arsenal into second.
Matt Law
