1. European final bound...
For the first time in 47 years, a major European final is marked on West Ham United’s schedule.
A hard-fought victory, one brought about by Pablo Fornals’ late winner, ended AZ Alkmaar’s 25-game unbeaten home run in Europe and stretched Hammers own sequence to 14 games without defeat in this competition.
It saw West Ham to the UEFA Europa Conference League final and means a chance for the Club’s first major trophy since 1980 against Fiorentina beckons in three weeks' time.
A third major European final in West Ham United history awaits.
Some journey this has been for the Hammers under the steely determination of David Moyes.
WE ARE GOING TO PRAGUE! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/cyX7mmzf6h
— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 18, 2023
2. Pablo playing it back...
As has been the case for the past two years, Pablo Fornals stood tall on the biggest night.
Key in wins over Lyon and Sevilla last campaign, AZ Alkmaar were the latest to feel the wrath of the Spaniard.
A late substitute for Said Benrahma, Fornals picked up the ball, burst through the AZ shirts and found the bottom corner with a neat swish of his right foot. Wheeling away in trademark fashion.
And it brought about a repeat of a trademark celebration, too.
June is going to be a busy month for Fornals - he’s getting married just a few days after the final!.
Run it back, Pablo! 😍
— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 18, 2023
West Ham are massive 🎶 pic.twitter.com/gsYk6ald7V
3. Defensive resilience...
AZ Alkmaar might have had 69.5 per cent of the ball on Thursday night, yet the fact that translated to only two shots on target pretty much told the story.
West Ham’s second leg triumph in Holland was built on the backbone of a solid defensive display.
One that ensured seven of the home side’s 12 efforts on goal were blocked before they could trouble Alphonse Areola in goal.
One that meant AZ had to take two-thirds of their goal attempts from outside the box and one which saw the Hammers win 62 per cent of their duels.
It was a defensive masterclass from David Moyes and his team. Ultimately AZ could not hurt the Hammers and that owed much to the organisation and sheer will not to be beaten.
A seventh clean sheet in the UEFA Europa Conference League run and rarely would the Hammers have kept a more crucial one.
4. Czech mates...
Wednesday 7 June 2023 at the Eden Arena in Prague has long been a date and venue marked in the collective Hammers calendar.
And no duo would have been keener to help take their team there than Tomáš Souček and Vladimír Coufal.
Our Czech mates both played their club football at the stadium in their capital city for Slavia Prague and now they have the chance to return there for the UEFA Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina.
“It is the best city in the world,” Souček stated at the final whistle in Alkmaar. “All English fans will love it. I know it is not the biggest stadium, but it is great. People look forward to welcoming West Ham too because since me and Vlad joined the Club, they have started to follow West Ham. We will have the whole of the Czech Republic behind us.
“From the start of the competition, I knew it was Prague and we had to get there. And we are there now. I am very emotional and look forward to it. We are in the final!”
