NK Domzale 2-1 West Ham United
UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round First Leg, Stadion Stozice, Ljubljana, Slovenia,
West Ham United have work to do in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie against NK Domzale after falling to a 2-1 defeat in Slovenia on Thursday.
A Matic Crnic double gave the hosts a first leg advantage despite Mark Noble’s successful penalty conversion in the first half.
Luka Elsner’s Domzale side were impressive and posed a threat on the break throughout, not least from their Slovenian international Crnic on the left hand side.
With Slaven Bilic serving the second game of a UEFA touchline ban, the Hammers were unable to find a route back into the contest once Crnic has re-established the hosts' lead soon after the interval and will need to up their game at London Stadium a week today.
The visitors were dealt an early shock when Havard Nordtveit was harshly penalised for handball inside the area with eleven minutes on the clock.
The Norway international was booked for his protests and Bilic’s men had to deal with falling behind as Crnic confidently beat Adrian’s dive with a well-placed penalty into the top left corner.
West Ham were not behind for long, however, as the referee pointed to the spot again – and this time in their favour – seven minutes later.
There was no doubt about this decision as Winston Reid beat goalkeeper Axel Maraval to flick the ball on and felt the full force of his attempted punch clear.
Noble is Mr Reliable from the spot and he placed the ball down the middle to register his 25th successful penalty conversion in Claret and Blue.
If a goal apiece in the opening 18 minutes represented an open start, the game was not about to close up yet, with both sides putting more emphasis on their attacking than defending.
Domzale were finding joy down their left flank and the goalscorer Crnic was left in space 28 minutes in, and only just missed the onrushing men with his dangerous low cross.
At the other end, Pedro Obiang shot not far wide of the left hand post after Andy Carroll flicked a left-wing corner on, but the chances continued to flow and Domzale’s Marko Alvir went close with a header over the top.
As the half drew to a close the teams traded chances – Benjamin Morel curling a free-kick over at one end before Nordtveit headed over at the other.
Domzale’s threat down the left was clear in the first half, and from that source that they retook the lead just four minutes after the interval.
Crnic was the man on target again, cutting inside before finding the bottom right hand corner of the net from 15 yards.
Ten minutes later, Adrian intervened crucially with a touch behind to prevent Jure Balkovec from adding a third and the Hammers needed to regroup.
Midway through the half the visitors shifted their personnel across the pitch, with Nordveit moving to right back, Kouyate centre half and Antonio on the left wing.
However, it was Domzale who still looked the more threatening and Zan Majer lined up a shot from 25 yards and Adrian had to acrobatically touch over.
Seven minutes from time Noble did well to jockey Crnic and deflect his shot behind, and Adrian had to make a fine double save at the death, meaning the Hammers did not have to make up more than a single-goal deficit at London Stadium next week.
NK Domzale: Maraval; Brachi, Horic, Dobrovoljc, Balkovec; Alvir, Horvat, Majer (Vetrih 85); Morel (Repas 77), Mance, Crnic (Juninho 90)
Subs: Milic, Vuk, Sirok, Blazic
Goals: Crnic pen 11, Crnic 49
Booked: Horvat
West Ham United: Adrian; Antonio (Quina 80), Nordtveit, Reid, Byram; Noble, Kouyate, Obiang; Feghouli, Carroll, Valencia
Subs: Randolph, Burke, Oxford, Page, Cullen, Fletcher
Goal: Noble pen 18
Booked: Nordtveit
UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round First Leg, Stadion Stozice, Ljubljana, Slovenia,
West Ham United have work to do in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie against NK Domzale after falling to a 2-1 defeat in Slovenia on Thursday.
A Matic Crnic double gave the hosts a first leg advantage despite Mark Noble’s successful penalty conversion in the first half.
Luka Elsner’s Domzale side were impressive and posed a threat on the break throughout, not least from their Slovenian international Crnic on the left hand side.
With Slaven Bilic serving the second game of a UEFA touchline ban, the Hammers were unable to find a route back into the contest once Crnic has re-established the hosts' lead soon after the interval and will need to up their game at London Stadium a week today.
The visitors were dealt an early shock when Havard Nordtveit was harshly penalised for handball inside the area with eleven minutes on the clock.
The Norway international was booked for his protests and Bilic’s men had to deal with falling behind as Crnic confidently beat Adrian’s dive with a well-placed penalty into the top left corner.
West Ham were not behind for long, however, as the referee pointed to the spot again – and this time in their favour – seven minutes later.
There was no doubt about this decision as Winston Reid beat goalkeeper Axel Maraval to flick the ball on and felt the full force of his attempted punch clear.
Noble is Mr Reliable from the spot and he placed the ball down the middle to register his 25th successful penalty conversion in Claret and Blue.
If a goal apiece in the opening 18 minutes represented an open start, the game was not about to close up yet, with both sides putting more emphasis on their attacking than defending.
Domzale were finding joy down their left flank and the goalscorer Crnic was left in space 28 minutes in, and only just missed the onrushing men with his dangerous low cross.
At the other end, Pedro Obiang shot not far wide of the left hand post after Andy Carroll flicked a left-wing corner on, but the chances continued to flow and Domzale’s Marko Alvir went close with a header over the top.
As the half drew to a close the teams traded chances – Benjamin Morel curling a free-kick over at one end before Nordtveit headed over at the other.
Domzale’s threat down the left was clear in the first half, and from that source that they retook the lead just four minutes after the interval.
Crnic was the man on target again, cutting inside before finding the bottom right hand corner of the net from 15 yards.
Ten minutes later, Adrian intervened crucially with a touch behind to prevent Jure Balkovec from adding a third and the Hammers needed to regroup.
Midway through the half the visitors shifted their personnel across the pitch, with Nordveit moving to right back, Kouyate centre half and Antonio on the left wing.
However, it was Domzale who still looked the more threatening and Zan Majer lined up a shot from 25 yards and Adrian had to acrobatically touch over.
Seven minutes from time Noble did well to jockey Crnic and deflect his shot behind, and Adrian had to make a fine double save at the death, meaning the Hammers did not have to make up more than a single-goal deficit at London Stadium next week.
NK Domzale: Maraval; Brachi, Horic, Dobrovoljc, Balkovec; Alvir, Horvat, Majer (Vetrih 85); Morel (Repas 77), Mance, Crnic (Juninho 90)
Subs: Milic, Vuk, Sirok, Blazic
Goals: Crnic pen 11, Crnic 49
Booked: Horvat
West Ham United: Adrian; Antonio (Quina 80), Nordtveit, Reid, Byram; Noble, Kouyate, Obiang; Feghouli, Carroll, Valencia
Subs: Randolph, Burke, Oxford, Page, Cullen, Fletcher
Goal: Noble pen 18
Booked: Nordtveit