LONDON (Interstat) — West Ham United delivered a commanding performance to open their Premier League campaign, decisively defeating Newcastle United 3-1 on Sunday at London Stadium. The result defied a pregame projection that had forecast a low-scoring draw, instead showcasing the Hammers’ efficiency in front of goal.

The match began in stunning fashion as Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy, introduced as a substitute early on, silenced the home crowd. In just the fourth minute, Murphy found the net to give the visiting Magpies an unexpected lead.

West Ham, however, remained composed and began to dictate the tempo. The equalizer arrived in the 35th minute through the influential Lucas Paquetá. The Brazilian midfielder, who would be a central figure throughout the contest, leveled the score with a well-taken finish.

The momentum firmly shifted in the home side’s favor just before halftime. In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Newcastle defender Sven Botman, also on as a substitute, scored an own goal to hand West Ham a 2-1 lead heading into the break.

The second half saw Newcastle pressing for an equalizer, but West Ham’s defense held firm. The match was sealed deep into second-half stoppage time. In the 97th minute, midfielder Tomáš Souček put the result beyond any doubt, scoring West Ham’s third goal to cap the victory. The assist on the play was credited to Paquetá, giving him a goal and an assist for the match.

The frantic final moments were marked by a flurry of disciplinary action. In the 96th minute, two yellow cards were issued simultaneously, one to Newcastle’s Jacob Ramsey and another to West Ham’s goalscorer, Paquetá. Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães had also been booked earlier in the match in the 30th minute.

The victory propels West Ham to a perfect start in the Premier League, their record now standing at one win and zero losses. For Newcastle, the defeat marks a disappointing beginning to their league season, leaving them with a record of zero wins and one loss. The result also improves West Ham’s record across all competitions to one win and zero losses, while Newcastle’s overall record falls to zero wins and one loss.

The final scoreline was a significant deviation from the pregame analytics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 draw, while the same organization’s ELO system had given West Ham an overwhelming 95.3 percent probability to win, a forecast the home side ultimately fulfilled with authority.