Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate were on target as Dimitri Payet and Angelo Ogbonna made their West Ham United debuts on this day in 2015.
Romanians Astra Giurgiu were the visitors to the Boleyn Ground in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round first leg.
A summer signing from Marseille, Payet did not take long to make his mark, providing the pinpoint cross for Ecuador forward Valencia to head the Hammers into a 23rd-minute lead.
Argentinian Zarate made it 2-0 six minutes after half-time, slaloming through the Astra defence before firing a left-foot shot past goalkeeper Silviu Lung Jr.
However, the tie was turned on its head after James Collins was sent-off for a second bookable offence on 59 minutes. with Fernando Boldrin smashing in from 30 yards and debutant Ogbonna inadvertently volleying into his own net.
West Ham would go ahead again when another debutant, Manuel Lanzini, opened the scoring three minutes into the return leg in Giurgiu, but two goals from Constantin Budescu ended the hopes of Slaven Bilic's side.
