Andriy Yarmolenko made a triumphant return from compassionate leave on Sunday afternoon when the Ukraine captain came off the bench to open the scoring for West Ham. The goal was superbly taken by Yarmolenko with one touch to control and then another with the outside of his left boot beyond the despairing Emi Martinez in the Villa net.
However, it was the celebration and emotion surrounding Yarmolenko's return that grabbed the headlines. The Ukrainian has missed the past four Hammers matches due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Yarmolenko's energy being expended on the safety of his family and his fellow countrymen.
The West Ham No.7 after his strike was joined in an emotional embrace by his Hammers teammates. Following the final whistle, David Moyes revealed that the attacker was given a standing ovation by the entire West Ham squad and backroom staff and the Scot's assistant Stuart Pearce admitted it was a touching moment.
READ MORE: Steven Gerrard praises what the Aston Villa fans did after Andriy Yarmolenko's goal
"It was a really, really emotional day," the West Ham assistant told talkSPORT. "I’ve got to say Yarma [Yarmolenko's] conducted himself brilliantly over the last few weeks and to be honest with you, how he’s done it, I don’t know. He’s been in to train most of the time, obviously with everything that’s going on, he was fortunate enough to get his wife and children out of Ukraine after the war had started.
"It’s been really, really tough for him, and an incredibly emotional day yesterday, I’ve got to say. The scene was almost set for Yarma and the feeling and the support that everyone in this country has for Ukraine. We came in afterwards [into the dressing room] and there was standing applause when he scored his goal. He was in tears and I’ve got to say there was a tear in my eye as well for everything that it meant.
"It’s a really sad scenario we are stuck in at the moment and hopefully there is a peaceful resolution very soon. But the way he conducted himself, the way the whole stadium came together, and I think there were Villa fans who showed support believe it or not, it was fantastic to see."
Despite conceding a goal the Villa fans applauded Yarmolenko and their boss Steven Gerrard had a warm message for Yarmolenko during this difficult time for him and his country.
"The Villa fans have been absolutely class with me. They are educated people, in terms of football, and I'm not surprised at that class," he said. "The kid scores a good goal and he has been through a lot so we send him our regards."
