Michail Antonio scored a brace to help West Ham produce one of the most comfortable football results of the weekend in the Europa Conference League. The attacker returned to the side following a hamstring injury but left on the hour after looking to hurt his calf. The attacker made an immediate impact, heading home excellently in the 36th minute before doubling the Hammers’ lead with a magnificent curling effort (45+1), his first brace in 19 months. He could have completed the hat trick immediately after the break as well, but his left-footed attempt hit the post. But, he had already put West Ham in a commanding lead ahead of the second leg at the London Stadium on Thursday.
Larnaca, who have never made it to the last 16 of any European competition, put West Ham to the test at the start and conclusion of the game. They had 14 corners to West Ham’s zero, but the Hammers’ quality was evident at both ends of the field. West Ham had a while to get going since Larnaca started well. Marin Jakolis was supplied down the left wing in the 18th minute, pulling Thilo Kehrer and Nayef Aguerd toward him, but his cross was seen behind by Declan Rice. Nikos Englezou nodded barely over from the third corner of that spell.
Yet, once West Ham discovered their quality, it was only a matter of time before the goals began to flow. After some fine work from Antonio and Pablo Fornals, Manuel Lanzini blasted his effort just wide in the 31st minute. Kenan Piric saved Said Benrahma’s attempt at the near post seconds later. But it was an injury delay for Englezou shortly after that allowed David Moyes to speak to his squad, notably Antonio, and the striker scored just four minutes later. Benrahma made an excellent job of leaving two Larnaca defenders in his wake as he dropped a shoulder, and his floated cross was firmly headed home by an unmarked Antonio.
A spectacular finish in the first minute of extra time handed West Ham their second goal. Rice surged through midfield before finding Antonio, who had plenty of space to spin and attack, looping a shot past Nenad Tomovic and into the net. Three minutes after the break, Antonio might have completed the perfect hat trick. Lanzini and Benrahma combined nicely down the left, with the latter providing his teammate with a lovely curled pass, but Antonio fired wide with his left foot.
Larnaca finished the game much like it began, with numerous of set-plays and tests for the West Ham defense. Substitutes Ivan Trickovski and Imad Faraj both drew saves from Alphonse Areola but were unable to beat him. Nonetheless, the Hammers easily won the opening leg, carrying a commanding lead back to the London Stadium next Thursday.
“We didn’t play very well, but when you’re unsatisfied with your performance, it’s a good job done. But they were overjoyed with the result, winning 2-0 away from home,” West Ham manager David Moyes said. “I was dissatisfied with our overall performance. We didn’t play very well tonight, in my opinion. But getting two goals was crucial for us; we haven’t been doing it on a regular basis, but we could have had a couple more. It was another source of disappointment, but altogether, we were very satisfied with the outcome. It would be fantastic if we could reach the quarter-finals of a European championship two years in a row. I’m hoping to be talking about semi-finals and finals this year, but first, we have to make the quarter-finals.”
“We went out to win, to put a good space between ourselves so that when we go home next week, it won’t be much easier, but at least we’ll be ahead. I was so close to completing the perfect hat trick! I was saddened when it hit the post. But scoring two goals has me ecstatic. I’m hoping to obtain some more next week,” Michail Antonio said. “There will always be competition in football, with someone vying for your shirt. I was able to come out and score some goals today. It all depends on whether I get the chance this weekend. We’re more at ease, but anything can happen in football. With us being at home with our fans, I believe it will be simpler and hopefully result in another win.”
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