The Hammers began their Europa League campaign on the home pitch against the Serbian side, and had the upper hand in the first half. However, the Italian international made a catastrophic error early in the second period, allowing Topola to take a surprise lead. The former Juventus defender was too careless on the ball at the halfway point and hesitated, allowing Petar Stanic to take advantage and slot the ball into the net.
Collins expressed his anger over Ogbonna’s mistake during a live broadcast of the match on BBC Radio Five Live on 21 September at 9:14pm.
He said: “Angelo Ogbonna has had an absolute shocker.
“Doesn’t know whether to go back to the goalkeeper, ends up slipping and trying to bring down the striker Stanic, and you have to say it’s a great finish.
“Backa Topola have deserved it. The last ten minutes of the first half and certainly the start of this second half they were the better team, and had the better chances.”
Luckily bailed out
At West Ham United, Ogbonna is renowned for his composure and assurance in possession, and this latest blunder was certainly out of the ordinary for him. However, when you are the last man to return while being so tentative and disinterested in possession, it is inevitable that you will be punished, and that is precisely what Ogbonna experienced in that critical moment. Fortunately, the Italian defender was able to benefit from the two goals scored by summer signing Kudus, and Ogbonna will be receiving a great deal of praise for his heroics.
Ogbonna will surely be humbled when he looks back on his error and, given his level of experience and expertise, it will be one he would like to forget in no time.
The Hammers won 2-0 after a nervy first half, thanks to James Ward Prowse’s second-half strike and a second-half masterclass from Kudus to seal the victory. Ogbonna’s blunder is now in the past.
