Ghana midfielder Andre Ayew scored with a fantastic strike as ten-man West Ham United came from behind three times to share an entertaining 3-3 draw with German side Altona 93 in Hamburg on Tuesday evening.

The Black Stars deputy captain scored his first goal of the pre-season as he continued his return to full fitness from last season's injury setback that affected his campaign.

The enforcer played for 70 minutes before he was substituted to give the chance to the other players in the squad.

West Ham fans will be delighted with the output of the Ghana ace as he was among the Hammers top performers against the Regionalliga Nord side.

Slaven Bilic’s side handed a debut to Chicharito and welcomed back Winston Reid from injury, only for the latter to be shown a red card at the Adolf-Jager Kampfbahn.

However, goals from Toni Martinez and Andre Ayew and a Joshua Du Preez own-goal seconds after the Mexican’s introduction ensured West Ham shared the spoils with their German hosts.

Altona changed nine of their outfield players at the break and also introduced a third goalkeeper, while Bilic opted to make two alterations of his own – Jose Fonte and Arthur Masuaku replacing Robert Snodgrass and Aaron Cresswell.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Hammers were an improved team after the break and levelled within eight minutes of the restart when Andre Ayew smashed a bouncing through ball past the third stopper Tobias Grubba.

It was only a temporary respite, however, as Serhat Cayir lifted a diagonal free-kick into the penalty area and the ball dropped to centre-half Darius Stode, who prodded past Adrian.



The game was now end-to-end and, after Ayew had been fouled, Marko Arnautovic rattled the base of the post with a long-range free-kick and another chance to Chicharito was wasted late in the game.

That proved to be the final chance of a frenetic game and West Ham’s three-match visit to Germany.

The Hammers will complete their pre-season schedule by taking on Manchester City in Iceland on Friday afternoon.

Altona 93: Grundmann (Matthai 27, Grubba 46, Du Preez 61), Aniteye (Stode 46), Yilmaz (Kunter 46), Hosseini (Lechler 74), Buzhala (Holz 46), Brisevac (Wachowski 46), Rettstadt (Cayir 46), Hinze (Edeling 46), Novotny (Sachs 46), Schultz (Correia Ca 46), Thiessen (Hadid 46, Schultz 83)

Goals: Brisevac 5, Thiessen 39, Stode 58

West Ham United: Adrian, Zabaleta (Byram 57), Reid ©, Ogbonna (Rice 57), Cresswell (Masuaku 46), Obiang, Fernandes, Arnautovic (Holland 67), Snodgrass (Fonte 46), Ayew (Makasi 70), Martinez (Chicharito 70)

Sub not used: Hart (GK)

Goals: Martinez 6, Ayew 53, Du Preez 72(own-goal)

Sent-off: Reid 42