West Ham players dedicate Wolves victory to Michail Antonio following horror car crash

West Ham players Jarrod Bowen (27) and Tomas Soucek (29) dedicated their crucial 2-1 victory over Wolves on Monday to their teammate Michail Antonio (34), who is currently recovering from a serious car accident.

The Jamaican forward required surgery for a fracture in his lower limb after being extricated from his Ferrari following the alarming incident in Epping.

RELATED NEWS: West Ham's Michail Antonio Undergoes Surgery After Car Accident

West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui described it as a "miracle" that Antonio survived the crash. Supporters of the Hammers paid tribute to Antonio with a minute's applause in the ninth minute, corresponding to his shirt number.

On a night filled with thoughts of Antonio, Bowen celebrated his impressive 72nd-minute goal by raising his teammate's jersey in the air.

"That meant everything. To share that moment, he's not here with us but I'm sure he was watching and the fans, you heard them. An emotional couple of days," Bowen remarked.

Soucek had opened the scoring for West Ham before Matt Doherty equalized, and the Czech midfielder acknowledged the emotional significance of the match.

"The goal was for him. I dedicated it to him. I said before the game I really wanted to score even more today," Soucek stated.

"He has been here since I arrived. He is truly my favorite. I mentioned it would be difficult for me to play without him.

"I'm relieved that he is doing well. He is a significant player and holds a special place in my heart. It has been really challenging for us.

"I was very worried about what might happen. It has been an incredibly tough week for him, his family, and for us."

Antonio, who had participated in all of West Ham's Premier League matches this season prior to the accident, is currently under observation in the hospital following his surgery. Soucek disclosed that his friend played a motivational role in West Ham's victory against their relegation competitors by addressing the players prior to the match at the London Stadium.

"We had a video call with him, the entire team, before the game. He greeted us with a smile and extended his best wishes. I am eager to visit him," he stated.

"He is a genuinely kind individual and possesses a great sense of humor. He even shared a few jokes before the match and wished us all the best."

SportsLigue