Michail Antonio scored the winner to help West Ham produce one of the narrow football results of the weekend in the Europa Conference League. Tijjani Reijnders gave the Dutch team the lead four minutes before halftime following a contentious buildup. However, the Hammers were able to tie the game thanks to Said Benrahma’s penalty after a sluggish start to the second half. After a change in momentum, David Moyes’ team finally seized the lead thanks to a prod from Antonio after Nayef Aguerd’s header was cleared off the line. Antonio’s 14th goal of the year, the finest performance of his eight seasons in east London, was sufficient to give West Ham the lead going into the second leg in the Netherlands on Thursday.
West Ham took the pitch in east London for their second European semi-final in a row in an effort to reach their first European final since 1976. Pyrotechnics, pyrotechnics and a cauldron of noise awaited the teams. It was a setting appropriate for a championship, much alone the last four. The Hammers created a number of chances as a result of their willingness to allow their Dutch opponents to retain possession in order to play on the counter. Following Declan Rice’s cross, Jarrod Bowen glanced a header over, then Benrahma caused former Brighton custodian Mat Ryan to make a fingertip stop before shooting over from deep.
However, their 0.71 anticipated goals number from eight shots at halftime showed a lack of uniqueness in the last third. AZ suddenly seized the lead under very contentious circumstances. Sam Beukema and Lucas Paqueta looked to push one other as they sprang for an aerial pass, but referee Halil Umut Meler let play to continue. The ball was moved up the pitch to Reijnders, who beat Areola with only one touch. When the second half began, West Ham’s motivation seemed to have vanished, and the frustration in the supporters increased with each shoddy finish or cheap turnover. A terrific job was being done by AZ in maintaining control of the tie.
The Hammers then got a much-needed lifeline. Ryan jumped to block a cross, but Bowen beat him to the ball. Bowen was then given a heavy hand to the face and was given a penalty as a result. Benrahma moved forward and delivered the perfect amount of force and placement, giving the Australian no chance. In the immediate wake of the equalizer, West Ham quickly gained momentum, and 14 minutes from time, AZ found themselves down a goal after Aguerd’s header was cleared off the line following Rice’s clipped pass in from the left. Antonio just needed one invitation to complete the three yards. In the final 10 minutes, Benrahma had two more opportunities to extend his team’s lead.
“I firmly feel that this community is incredibly resilient. We’ll need it, I believe, and I believe we have it via the team and the club. In the Premier League games we’ve played, we’ve needed it. However, we recently defeated Manchester United, winning the first leg of the semi-final 2-1. That would have to be accepted,” West Ham boss David Moyes said. “When competing in a cup tournament, finishing is more important than how you do it. By no means have we completed it. Next week, we have a large task to do. I consider the tie to be quite equally distributed. The game has virtually nothing to offer. I wouldn’t be declaring we were out of the tie if it were the other way around, if we were behind by a goal, and I don’t believe AZ would either. The balance of the game is impeccable.”
West Ham has won all four of its games in European play this season after giving up the first goal, defeating AZ Alkmaar in the same way they defeated FCSB (September), Silkeborg IF (September), and KAA Gent (April). West Ham has won 12 matches in the Europa Conference League this season—13 matches total—including qualifying matches, compared to 10 victories in the Premier League—35 matches total. Only Fiorentina’s Arthur Cabral, who has made 12 games, has scored more goals in the Europa Conference League this season than West Ham’s Michail Antonio, who has six goals in seven outings.
For more football results, click here
