In a dramatic moment during the Premier League clash between Newcastle and West Ham, Mohammed Kudus found himself in an unexpected situation when he attempted to involve a ball boy in his goal celebration.
Kudus, the Ghanaian midfielder, had just slammed the Hammers in front on the brink of halftime at St James’ Park in the early kick-off. Eager to add a touch of flair to his celebration, Kudus gestured towards a nearby ball boy, indicating his desire to use the youngster’s stool as a prop.
However, despite Kudus' request, the ball boy declined to participate in the celebration, perhaps spurred by Newcastle's trailing position in the game. Consequently, Kudus resorted to sitting on a nearby pitchside advertising board instead.
The goal itself was not without controversy, as it came shortly after a contentious free-kick was awarded to West Ham. Fabian Schar had been struck in the face, but the Hammers opted for a quick free-kick, catching the Newcastle defense off guard and leading to Kudus' goal.
Despite Newcastle's early lead courtesy of Alexander Isak's penalty, West Ham mounted a strong comeback. Michail Antonio equalized before Kudus put the visitors ahead just before halftime. The momentum continued in the second half as Jarred Bowen extended West Ham's lead with an assist from Kudus.
However, Newcastle staged a remarkable turnaround. Isak converted another penalty after a foul on Anthony Gordon, and Harvey Barnes leveled the scoreline following an assist from Isak. In an exhilarating finale, Barnes secured the victory for Newcastle with a goal in the 90th minute, sealing a thrilling 4-3 win.
Mohammed Kudus' impressive season statistics in the Premier League include 25 appearances, seven goals, and four assists.