West Ham United 4-1 KAA Gent
West Ham United win 5-2 on aggregate
UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg, London Stadium, Thursday 20 April 2023
A highly impressive second-half attacking showing – including a goal-of-the-season contender from captain Declan Rice – secured a 4-1 win for West Ham United at home to KAA Gent in the second leg of our UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final.
The incredible solo effort from the Academy of Football graduate came following Michail Antonio’s equaliser and Lucas Paquetá’s penalty before Antonio confidently dispatched a fourth on 63 minutes.
There had been nerves in east London after Gent took the lead thanks to Hugo Cuypers’ first-time finish from eight yards on 26 minutes, giving the Belgian side a 2-1 aggregate lead after the 1-1 draw in the first leg.
But David Moyes’ men kept their resolve, showed attacking intensity and ultimately secured a sensational 5-2 aggregate win to set-up a fifth European semi-final for West Ham.
A pulsating light show and wall of noise welcomed the Hammers and the De Buffalo’s onto the London Stadium pitch, and captain Rice set the tone for a thrilling night of European action with a crunching tackle just a minute into the fixture.
Despite the Irons dominating the early proceedings, the first big chance of the second leg was crafted by Gent.
Sven Kums took the ball off Matisse Samoise’s foot to whip in a tantalising cross from the right flank, catching the West Ham defence unawares. Both Gift Orban and Cuypers attacked the delivery but neither could turn the ball towards Alphonse Areola’s net. Any significant touch would have almost certainly given the visitors the lead.
While the hosts looked to create a goalscoring opportunity, it appeared set plays would provide West Ham their best chance. Kurt Zouma rose highest to connect with a free-kick, only for his header to go over the bar.
For all West Ham’s play, an error would provide Gent the opportunity to open the scoring. Paquetá’s wayward pass was intercepted and the pacey Orban dragged the Irons’ defence across to the left of the penalty area. A clever ball across found Samoise, who bounced an effort back into Cuypers. The striker was in the right place to turn past Areola.
Emerson interplayed with Saïd Benrahma to unleash a shot at the near post, which was turned away by Danvy Roef, but the equaliser would come on 37 minutes.
Vladimír Coufal’s cross struck Kamil Piątkowski’s hand. Jarrod Bowen stood over the free-kick and played it to the near post, where Antonio eagerly waited. The No9 only had to guide in his header to equalise and score his fifth European goal of the season so far.
For all the nerves of the first half, West Ham upped the tempo in the second and treated the Claret and Blue army among the 53,475 in attendance to some scintillating football.
Tomáš Souček will feel he should have given the Irons the lead when good footwork from Bowen put the midfielder in on goal. The Czech Republic international put his foot through the ball and struck the crossbar from a tight angle.
Moments later, Bowen went close himself at the near post before Antonio too struck the woodwork, from a position where he will feel he should have done better. However, in the build-up, a hand was ruled to have been used by Gent defender Joseph Okumu. A quick VAR check later and the Hammers had a penalty.
Up stepped Paquetá. Much like he did away at Leeds United back in January, the Brazilian made no mistake from 12 yards, confidently dispatching to put the Irons in front in the tie.
Less than two minutes later, West Ham were clear in front, and it was an outrageous finish from captain Rice. The midfielder collected the ball inside the Hammers half and proceeded to stride forward confidently. A clever shimmy and the No41 was inside the Gent area, where he calmly passed the ball with his left boot in the far corner.
Rice’s celebration and beaming smile told the story. He knew he had just done something special on what was turning into a very special evening at London Stadium.
As the hour mark ticked by, Antonio grabbed his second and West Ham’s forth. The No9’s curling shot was hit with such venom that even Roef’s outstretched palm could not stop the forward’s fine finish finding the top corner.
Antonio’s second of the night took him level on eight European goals for West Ham along with Bowen, who seemed to recognise that his record was matched and went in search for a strike of his own. The England international saw one ruled out harshly for handball on 71 minutes, before another was finely saved.
With the tie seemingly settled, manager Moyes used all five substitutes to share the minutes around on a memorable evening. January signing Danny Ings came on, as did lifelong West Ham fan Flynn Downes and German international Thilo Kehrer.
They were joined not long after by Maxwel Cornet and Pablo Fornals and, as the final whistle blew in London Stadium, a roar of approval greeted the squad’s efforts. Another European semi-final was in sight for West Ham United.
West Ham United: Areola, Coufal, Zouma (Kehrer 70), Aguerd, Emerson, Rice © (Downes 70), Souček, Paquetá, Benrahma (Fornals 79), Bowen (Cornet 79), Antonio (Ings 70)
Subs not used: Fabiański (GK), Anang (GK), Johnson, Cresswell, Lanzini, Potts, Mubama
Goals: Antonio 37, 63, Paquetá pen 56, Rice 58
KAA Gent: Roef, Samoise, Piątkowski, Okumu, Núrio Fortuna, Kums ©, De Sart (Odjidja-Ofoe 71), Castro-Montes, Hong (Depoitre 72), Cuypers, Orban (Tissoudali 72)
Subs not used: Nardi (GK), Hauge, Fofana, Torunarigha, Godeau, Van Daele
Goals: Cuypers 26
Booked: Orban
Referee: Orel Grinfeld (Israel)
Attendance: 53,475
