West Ham 3-1 Viborg Hammers Open up a Two-Goal Lead in Europa Conference League Play-Off
- 2 years ago
They combined for a first goal, from their first chance, on their first start, to put West Ham on course for a first win of the season.
David Moyes didn't spend nearly £50million on Gianluca Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet for the Europa Conference League play-offs. Against Viborg of Denmark. But this will do for starters.
Particularly after two defeats to start the campaign. Particularly as scars from last season's run to the Europa League semi-finals remain. .
Moyes, Declan Rice and Aaron Cresswell were all suspended here following that defeat, for crimes including accusations of corruption and kicking a ball at a ball boy.
Without them, there were opportunities for youngsters such as Harrison Ashby and a return as captain for Angelo Ogbonna, who had been out since last November following knee surgery.
This also afforded the West Ham fans – those who beat train strikes for the Conference League and slightly cheaper beers – a first sighting of defender Thilo Kehrer off the bench, who only joined from Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. And a first proper glimpse of Cornet and Scamacca here.
Midway through the first half Cornet, signed for £17.5m from Burnley, wriggled into space and crossed for Scamacca, who cost around £30m from Sassuolo and headed home his first goal for the club. And West Ham's first all season.
'To get off the mark really quickly is a big thing for a Centre forward,' assistant Billy McKinlay said. 'There's plenty more to come from them.'
Their second came through Jarrod Bowen's drive, their third courtesy of Michail Antonio, who calmed West Ham nerves after Jakob Bonde's header briefly gave Viborg hope.
And so, after a slightly 'labored' display, West Ham carry a two-goal lead into next week's second leg.
Viborg were already two men down before landing in England – neither Ibrahim Said nor Alassana Jatta could travel due to post-Brexit visa issues.
For West Ham, meanwhile, no Rice after his rant at the referee. No Cresswell after his red card in Frankfurt. Not many supporters, either. Moyes sat among them after his run-in with that ball boy.
'It was quite strange to have him up there,' McKinlay added. 'I could feel the heat on the back of my neck!'
He could hear an away end abuzz with topless Danes, enjoying their first Euro trip for two decades, who were not silenced by Scamacca, Bowen or Antonio, who netted from close range after good work by fellow replacement Said Benrahma.
David Moyes didn't spend nearly £50million on Gianluca Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet for the Europa Conference League play-offs. Against Viborg of Denmark. But this will do for starters.
Particularly after two defeats to start the campaign. Particularly as scars from last season's run to the Europa League semi-finals remain. .
Moyes, Declan Rice and Aaron Cresswell were all suspended here following that defeat, for crimes including accusations of corruption and kicking a ball at a ball boy.
Without them, there were opportunities for youngsters such as Harrison Ashby and a return as captain for Angelo Ogbonna, who had been out since last November following knee surgery.
This also afforded the West Ham fans – those who beat train strikes for the Conference League and slightly cheaper beers – a first sighting of defender Thilo Kehrer off the bench, who only joined from Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. And a first proper glimpse of Cornet and Scamacca here.
Midway through the first half Cornet, signed for £17.5m from Burnley, wriggled into space and crossed for Scamacca, who cost around £30m from Sassuolo and headed home his first goal for the club. And West Ham's first all season.
'To get off the mark really quickly is a big thing for a Centre forward,' assistant Billy McKinlay said. 'There's plenty more to come from them.'
Their second came through Jarrod Bowen's drive, their third courtesy of Michail Antonio, who calmed West Ham nerves after Jakob Bonde's header briefly gave Viborg hope.
And so, after a slightly 'labored' display, West Ham carry a two-goal lead into next week's second leg.
Viborg were already two men down before landing in England – neither Ibrahim Said nor Alassana Jatta could travel due to post-Brexit visa issues.
For West Ham, meanwhile, no Rice after his rant at the referee. No Cresswell after his red card in Frankfurt. Not many supporters, either. Moyes sat among them after his run-in with that ball boy.
'It was quite strange to have him up there,' McKinlay added. 'I could feel the heat on the back of my neck!'
He could hear an away end abuzz with topless Danes, enjoying their first Euro trip for two decades, who were not silenced by Scamacca, Bowen or Antonio, who netted from close range after good work by fellow replacement Said Benrahma.