Diego Poyet’s winning penalty against Birkirkara in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round on Thursday was about as cool as they come.
The 20-year-old midfielder waited for the ‘keeper to make his move and then nonchalantly rolled his decisive spot-kick into the right corner.
Though he is hardly a regular from 12 yards, Poyet was as keen as anyone to step up and after Nikola Vukanac had blazed over in ugly fashion, the youngster made it look so very easy.
“I took one last season in a pre-season game against Schalke and I was lucky enough to take one in the Capital One Cup at home,” he recalled.
“Luckily I had one with the Uruguay U20s at the World Cup this summer, so as soon as the whistle went, I asked for a penalty.
“I wasn’t sure, because obviously I’m one of the younger players here, so I wasn’t sure they’d give me the responsibility, but I felt comfortable and confident, so it was pleasing to score the last one to put us through.”
The 20-year-old midfielder waited for the ‘keeper to make his move and then nonchalantly rolled his decisive spot-kick into the right corner.
Though he is hardly a regular from 12 yards, Poyet was as keen as anyone to step up and after Nikola Vukanac had blazed over in ugly fashion, the youngster made it look so very easy.
“I took one last season in a pre-season game against Schalke and I was lucky enough to take one in the Capital One Cup at home,” he recalled.
“Luckily I had one with the Uruguay U20s at the World Cup this summer, so as soon as the whistle went, I asked for a penalty.
“I wasn’t sure, because obviously I’m one of the younger players here, so I wasn’t sure they’d give me the responsibility, but I felt comfortable and confident, so it was pleasing to score the last one to put us through.”
Poyet rounded off a supreme set of spot-kicks, with Mark Noble, Mauro Zarate, Aaron Cresswell and Joey O’Brien each having dispatched their penalties in style. Not that a shootout was ever part of the master plan, of course, with the Hammers keen to settle it a whole lot sooner.
He continued: “We wanted to win it, with penalties, you know what it’s like, anyone can win. It obviously helps to have the talent and the quality of players, but it can go either way. We were trying to win it extra time but we couldn’t convert any of our chances, so we had to do it the hard way.
“They were very good penalties. I think every one was well struck and in the corners. We hadn’t practiced. No disrespect to them, but we didn’t think it was going to go to penalties.
“Especially with the 1-0 lead we had at home, we thought we’d be comfortable here, play our game, but obviously things happen in football and you’ve got to be ready. Credit to all the boys for the way they took the penalties.”
As turbulent an evening as it was, qualification is ultimately all that mattered and Poyet conceded that the visitors had had a lot to contend with at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium.
“The most important thing was to get through and we did it. It was obviously tough going a goal down and then going down to ten men as well before half time.
“It was a strange game, especially with the crowd and some decisions that didn’t go our way, but we’re just happy to be through to the next round.”
Romanians Astra now lie in wait in the third qualifying round and West Ham’s No23 urged the Hammers to learn the lessons of their European adventure to date, not least the perils of playing with ten men for long periods.
“We need to be careful, the further we progress the harder the games will be, so I don’t know how many times we’ll get away with it, but we’re obviously very pleased to get through again.
“It [Astra] is another game in the unknown, we don’t know what to expect. We’ve got to learn from the two games, the things we’ve done well and the things we’ve done wrong, against this type of opposition.
“We want to win at home and away, get through and see what happens. We have to start off well, get ahead and take it to their place, but we need to be in the lead.”
Tickets for West Ham’s Europa League third qualifying round first leg tie against FC Astra are on sale to Season Ticket Holders online now and are available at whufcboxoffice.com. Tickets cost just £10 for adults and £5 for Under-16s.
He continued: “We wanted to win it, with penalties, you know what it’s like, anyone can win. It obviously helps to have the talent and the quality of players, but it can go either way. We were trying to win it extra time but we couldn’t convert any of our chances, so we had to do it the hard way.
“They were very good penalties. I think every one was well struck and in the corners. We hadn’t practiced. No disrespect to them, but we didn’t think it was going to go to penalties.
“Especially with the 1-0 lead we had at home, we thought we’d be comfortable here, play our game, but obviously things happen in football and you’ve got to be ready. Credit to all the boys for the way they took the penalties.”
As turbulent an evening as it was, qualification is ultimately all that mattered and Poyet conceded that the visitors had had a lot to contend with at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium.
“The most important thing was to get through and we did it. It was obviously tough going a goal down and then going down to ten men as well before half time.
“It was a strange game, especially with the crowd and some decisions that didn’t go our way, but we’re just happy to be through to the next round.”
Romanians Astra now lie in wait in the third qualifying round and West Ham’s No23 urged the Hammers to learn the lessons of their European adventure to date, not least the perils of playing with ten men for long periods.
“We need to be careful, the further we progress the harder the games will be, so I don’t know how many times we’ll get away with it, but we’re obviously very pleased to get through again.
“It [Astra] is another game in the unknown, we don’t know what to expect. We’ve got to learn from the two games, the things we’ve done well and the things we’ve done wrong, against this type of opposition.
“We want to win at home and away, get through and see what happens. We have to start off well, get ahead and take it to their place, but we need to be in the lead.”
Tickets for West Ham’s Europa League third qualifying round first leg tie against FC Astra are on sale to Season Ticket Holders online now and are available at whufcboxoffice.com. Tickets cost just £10 for adults and £5 for Under-16s.