After scoring only one goal in his previous 104 matches, a player once viewed as a potential future star for West Ham United in the Premier League did something very unexpected over the weekend.
Not only did he hit a brace – the first of his senior career – he also wrapped up three invaluable points with a lesser-spotted ‘Olimpico’.
Named after a famous goal scored by Argentina at the 1924 Olympics, when Cesareo Onzari became the first player ever to score directly from a corner on the international stage, Jeremy Ngakia joined Heung-Min Son, Andrea Pirlo, Diego Forlan, Angel di Maria, David Beckham, Ronaldinho and co in a pretty exclusive club.
And what is it they say about London buses?
Former West Ham United starlet had netted only once in over a century of games. So of course he did so twice in the space of just four minutes to inspire a 2-1 comeback victory for Watford against Oxford on Saturday.
Ngakia left West Ham in the summer of 2020, reportedly after the Londoners were too slow to offer him a new deal. Five and a half years after the youngster’s breakout performance against Liverpool – Carlton Cole said he was ‘outstanding’ up against the formidable Sadio Mane that night – the full-back showcased the technical qualities he demonstrated when starting out as a winger during those early days in East London.
Former West Ham United starlet Jeremy Ngakia hits Watford brace
While there was nothing particularly special about the goal which drew Watford level against Oxford – Ngakia popping up to head home from point-blank range after a goalmouth scramble – the second was anything but.
Albeit if assisted via some very questionable handling from visiting goalkeeper Jamie Cumming.
“It was important to get the win and I’m happy to contribute with two goals,” Ngakia beamed, speaking to BBC Sport after the in-form Hornets climbed up into the top-half of the Championship table.
I was just trying to put [the corner] in the area but I’ll take that. I don’t remember [doing that before]!
“We said at half-time we needed to try to get more goals and created a lot of chances, we could have punished them even more, but it’s good we got the win.”
“Jeremy had a wonderful game,” a typically under-pressure head coach Paulo Pezzolano tells the Watford Observer. “He deserves everything good that happened to him because he’s a really good person, a very good team-mate.
“He’s very much appreciated within the changing room and it’s really good that he has a moment like this.”
Nuno sees the positives after Arsenal loss as he brings back Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Back at the London Stadium, West Ham’s current right-back options mean Nuno Espirito Santo has a useful selection dilemma in the shape of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Kyle Walker-Peters.
Wan-Bissaka returned against Arsenal in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat. The Hammer of the Year making his first appearance since that nightmare 5-1 battering by Chelsea in August.
And while Wan-Bissaka was powerless to prevent a dominant Arsenal side from easing towards all three points, Nuno is looking forward to building on those early positives during the international break.
“There are moments of frustration, but I think the boys answered good. Many parts of our game we did well and not so well in other aspects. We are moving forward,” Nuno said on the day when Ngakia became Watford’s most unlikely of heroes.
“There are so many things that we need to do. We defended set-pieces slightly better. I think we didn’t create too many problems for ourselves on that. On the other hand, I think we had two good situations and the small details inside of them are important, but overall in the game, the organisation was there to press in the gaps.
“Mistakes that happened, it is up to us now to correct with the ball. We didn’t have too many situations of going and having a breather, except some minutes in the first half.
“We have to improve in many things, but the willingness is there, the will and the desire to do it is there. So, let’s do it.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
