It has taken 47 years but the Hammers have made it – they are into a major European Final after a determined rather than delirious performance in Holland.
A fabulous goal from sub Pablo Fornals, seconds from the end , saw them through to the Euro Conference Final on June 7 in Prague.
It was enough to give them a 3-1 aggregate score line against AZ Alkmaar on a night when Lucas Paqueta produced an outstanding performance.
He rapped a shot against the outside of a post earlier when despite plenty of AZ possession, the Hammers defence stood firm as the Hammers created history. Paqueta was immense.
AZ with only one defeat in 23 at home this season could never break down our defence where Zouma was outstanding along with Aguerd.
Jarrod Bowen saw a shot rifled wide but the Hammers rarely dominated. In the end it didn’t matter as AZ never did enough to concern us.
The other Europa Conference League semi-final has gone to extra time with Basel and Fiorentina drawing 3-3.
At the end Aaron Cresswell said: “Emotions are running high. It’s been a disappointing season in the League but this is massive. We are all so happy. I can’t wait for the Final. I’m so happy.”
By Hughie Southon
Well done to the team and yes well done David Moyes. A really difficult season trying to integrate several new players has paid off. Win the final and we are in Europa League next season.
Brilliant. Congratulations to Moyes and the boys, creating history yet again. Special mention to fornals whose spot in the team has been taken by Paquetta or Benrahma or both all season but came on and did the business. Not sure if he shouldn’t have been back defending or trying to get the ball to the corner flag at that point since we were going through anyway and had he lost the ball he could have been the villain of the piece but instead he took it on and got the goal to become the hero of the night. Congratulations Pablo.
We’ve got super David Moyes. He knows exactly what we need. Zouma at the back, Bowen in attack, we’re gonner win the conference league.
90 minutes will decide our fate. DM get the videos of Fiorentina out. Send whoever out there to see how they play. GREAT substitution btw. Lucky 5,000 who get tickets to see history in the making! COYI
In 1976 I was a teenager at school and the night of the ECWC Final against Anderlecht corresponded with a David Bowie gig at Wembley Arena. I chose to sell my Bowie tickets to watch the Hammers on tv. I was SO disappointed at the result, I vowed never to make that choice again. Over the years, I saw David Bowie many times, and in that time West Ham never played in a European final again. I’ll be watching BT Sport on June 7th….. thankfully I don’t have tickets for anyone’s gig anywhere.
Good luck to Moyes and the boys against Fiorentina. I’m confident we can win. Fiorentina have to play Inter Milan in the Italian Cup final on May 24th. I hope all their luck is used up on that day!! COYI