Ismaila Sarr scored an early contender for Championship goal of the season as Watford played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with fellow promotion hopefuls West Brom at the Hawthorns.
The Baggies struck through Karlan Grant, who netted a deserved leveller in first-half stoppage time, before Sarr missed the opportunity to clinch a second victory of the season for Rob Edwards’s side from the penalty spot.
A moment of inspiration from Sarr illuminated a game that the home side dominated, firing Watford ahead against the run of play, with Daniel Bachmann’s trio of astounding saves immediately upstaged by the brilliance of the game’s opening goal.
Ismaïla Sarr of Watford celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-1 during the Sky Bet Championship between West Bromwich Albion and Watford at The Hawthorns on August 8, 2022 in West Bromwich, United Kingdom.
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Bachmann thwarted Darnell Furlong and Grant in quick succession, before also denying John Swift from close range, but there was nothing opposite number David Button could do with Sarr’s effort from two yards inside his own half.
A strike brimming with quality and invention – reminiscent of David Beckham’s goal against Wimbledon in 1996 and Wayne Rooney’s at West Ham in 2014 – as the Senegalese international spotted Button imprudently off his line and proceeded to lift the ball over him in the 12th minute.
Grant then atoned for his earlier miss when latching onto Grady Diangana’s defence-splitting pass, pulling the ball down with admirable composure before firing beyond the grasp of Bachmann to level proceedings two minutes prior to the break.
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The game once again turned in Watford’s favour midway through the second period, as Semi Ajayi clumsily challenged Sarr inside the box at the cost of a penalty kick. But the striker, in stark contrast to his breathtaking first-half contribution, side-footed a tame effort towards goal from 12 yards which was easily rebuffed by Button in the 73rd minute.
What’s next?
West Brom welcome Sheffield United to The Hawthorns in the Carabao Cup first round at 8pm on Thursday August 11, while Watford host Burnley in the Sky Bet Championship at 8pm the following evening, live on Sky Sports Football.
Friday 12th August 7:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
