Sky Sports pundit wowed as Giancluca Scamacca makes big step up for West Ham United v Wolves
Gianluca Scamacca could have ignited his career at West Ham with his excellent opening goal against Wolves, according to Alan Smith.
The summer signing from Sassuolo brought the game at the London Stadium to life when he volleyed the Irons into the lead from the edge of the area in the 29th minute.
Jarrod Bowen had darted into the area on the attack before a combination of visiting defenders blocked his advance, but the ball only bounced out as far as Scamacca, and as the ball sat up from his first touch he smashed it into the far corner, leaving former striker Smith was highly impressed.
Speaking live on the Sky Sports match commentary on Saturday evening (1 October, 6.01pm) Smith said: “What a finish! Jarrod Bowen deserves a lot of credit, but the ball just pops out to the Italian, and when it does he’s got no hesitation whatsoever.
“It’s the kind of goal that can ignite your career at a new club, and help you settle at a different level, a higher level than the one he’s been used to.
“This should give him plenty of confidence, and why wouldn’t it with that kind of finish? Unstoppable shot.”
Rebound
David Moyes finally turned to his new signings to a greater degree as he looked to get his side out of a slump which had them sitting in the relegation zone heading into the game, and his job being questioned.
Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet were both put in from the start, alongside record-signing Lucas Paqueta, with the Italian striker heavily involved from early without anything quite coming off, until his wonderful strike.
Jarrod Bowen was looking more like the star of last season in the opening 45 minutes, and if that is a sign of things to come it will be a major boost to the Hammers.
The opening half wasn’t packed with incident, but Scamacca had gone close once already after good work from the former Hull winger, and it was the same pair who were at the heart of the opening goal.
West Ham badly need a win in this game to ignite their season, and as well as kickstarting his own time in east London the striker put his team in a good position to take the points.
It is a packed schedule from now until the World Cup so starting with a win would be a highly beneficial start to that run.