Ghana star Mohammed Kudus once again stole the headlines on Thursday night, delivering a spectacular performance that included a brilliant finish, catapulting West Ham to victory and securing their place at the top of Group A in the Europa League.
The 23-year-old, already in fine form with involvement in three previous goals, showcased his finishing prowess by racing behind Freiburg’s backline to meet Alvarez’s pass and expertly finish the ball—a reminiscent partnership from their shared time at Ajax.
Adding a fascinating numerical element to his standout moment, Kudus, donning the No. 14 shirt, found the net on the 14th minute of the match, an occurrence made even more remarkable by the fact that this exceptional feat unfolded on the 14th day of December.
⚽️✨ Mohammed Kudus, the magic man, striking on the 14th minute, donning the iconic number 14, on the remarkable 14th of December! 🌟🇬🇭
— Ibrahim Sannie Daara (@SannieDaara) December 15, 2023
And all these numbers helped West Ham to advance.
Talk about star power! 🫵🏽💥 #MohammedKudus #14on14 #GhanaFootball pic.twitter.com/7V7DP5lGD4
The game ended 2-0 with Alvarez scoring the second goal to seal the victory.
Fans were quick to shower praise on the Black Stars forward, commending not only his clinical finish but also his overall performance, which included captivating dribbling and ball-juggling that undoubtedly thrilled supporters.
Mohammed Kudus makes football look very easy 🤩
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 14, 2023
What a player! What a goal! 👏
📺 Stream the #UEL live now: https://t.co/TesYUfo62x pic.twitter.com/ELLFKQD7J2
🇬🇭 Mohammed Kudus always has the best seat in the house 🪑 pic.twitter.com/Ky2Tlzj8kZ
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) December 14, 2023
Don't try this at home 😬 pic.twitter.com/ZimOkWw9OS
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 7, 2023
The goal against Freiburg marks Kudus’ seventh for West Ham since joining the Hammers last summer. As his stellar performances continue to impress, expectations are high for Kudus to be a key player in the Black Stars squad as they prepare for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Chris Hughton is anticipated to release the provisional squad in the coming days, with Kudus likely to be a central figure for Ghana in the tournament.