Match Portfolio / Sevilla vs West Ham United
West Ham vs Sevilla – Match Preview
West Ham will be without Jarrod Bowen in Thursday’s crucial Europa League second leg against Sevilla at the London Stadium.
The Spanish side defeated the Hammers 1-0 in the first leg at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, with Munir El Haddadi scoring the only goal of the game.
West Ham will need a clean sheet and two goals to advance to the quarter finals of the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history.
Bowen limped off in their defeat against Liverpool two weeks ago, but scans showed no major damage to the wingers ankle.
Speaking about his availability, West Ham manager David Moyes said: “Jarrod Bowen is not available. He probably won’t be available until after the international break.
“Anfield made it look more serious. Since then, Jarrod is slightly improving but not as fast as we had hoped.”
West Ham lacked cutting-edge in the first leg, with Nikola Vlasic and Manuel Lanzini missing two golden opportunities to get that crucial away goal.
Moyes said: “At the moment, we are not finishing off our good work and effort, we need to start taking those chances.
“It has been a regular occurrence in the last few games. We should have probably got a point at Anfield, and we should have gotten the draw in the first leg.
“There were opportunities where we could have set other things up better, we could have made better chances and that’s something I will push this week.
“We are here to win and we need to capitalise on opportunities to do so.”
The lack of cutting edge has been a regular problem for Moyes side this season, he said: “We had a period earlier in the season where we had a similar run of not scoring and that is when you must keep clean sheets.”
Sevilla will be without full back Luis Ocampos who picked up a yellow card in the final minutes of the first leg.
His third yellow card of the tournament means he will be suspended for the match at the London Stadium.
West Ham could be without defender Aaron Cresswell and striker Michael Antonio who both went off injured in their victory against Aston Villa on Sunday, Moyes said: “I couldn’t tell you exactly if they are fit or not.
“They didn’t train with the squad today, they have only done a bit of light training, we will assess them tomorrow.”
West Ham vs Sevilla – Match Report
Andriy Yarmolenko scores extra-time winner as West Ham beat Sevilla 2-0 at the London Stadium, to go through to the Europa League quarter finals.
Yarmolenko tapped home in the 112th minute after Pablo Fornals’ shot was saved by Yassine Bounou.
Sevilla had won the first leg 1-0 in Spain last week, but the Hammers levelled the aggregate score with Tomáŝ Souček’s header in the first half.
The Spanish side made the better start to the game.
Seven minutes in, Manchester United loanee Anthony Martial cut inside from the right and made a threatening run into the box, but the resulting shot was blocked by Craig Dawson.
Four minutes later, Saïd Benhrama played a beautiful chipped pass into the path of Fornals, but his first-time volley flew just wide of the post.
Sevilla grew into the game and after excellent build up play on the left-hand side, Joan Jordán’s cross was met by Youssef En-Nesyri whose thunderous volley was brilliantly saved by Alphonse Areola.
Just minutes after, the Spanish side were toying with West Ham on the edge of the box.
Jesus Navas’ cross was initially cleared by Ben Johnson, Jordán picked up the second ball and flashed his shot just wide.
On the stroke of half time, the Hammers made the breakthrough
Michael Antonio used his strength to shield the ball from four Sevilla defenders, he found a way through and crossed into Souček whose header beat Bounou at his far post to make it 1-0.
From the restart, West Ham almost took the aggregate lead straight away.
Declan Rice picked up the ball in midfield and skilfully ran through three Sevilla players before passing to Souček whose shot was fired straight at Bounou.
Ten minutes later, Jesús Manuel Corona played a beautiful lofted through ball into En-Nesyri, but his first-time half volley went just wide.
Five minutes before full time, Benhrama made a fantastic run down the right-hand side, he cut inside but his curled shot resulted in an easy save for Bounou.
With the aggregate score level, the game went to extra-time. Fornals whipped in a corner that found Dawson who parried it onto Souček, but his shot went just wide.
In the 112th minute, Fornals’ curled shot was parried by Bounou right into the path of Yarmolenko who easily tapped in.
The Hammers held on for the final eight minutes of extra-time, sending them to the quarter finals for the first time in the club’s history.
West Ham vs Sevilla – Quotes Led Rewrite
David Moyes praises incredible performance after West Ham overturn 1-0 deficit to knock Sevilla out of the Europa League.
Andriy Yarmolenko was the hero again for West Ham as he tapped home the winner in extra time to defeat the serial winners.
The Hammers became the first English team to beat Sevilla in the competition at a buzzing London Stadium.
Moyes said: “Tonight, we were massive. The way we played. We deserved it in the end. It was a really great night and one we really enjoyed.
“We put out the team who are serial winners, so that will give us lots of confidence. They were two tough games, really close.
“We are still climbing a mountain, and we are at base camp at the moment.
“Who would have said two years ago we’d have a night like tonight – but I see a great chance for things to still improve.”
Twenty minutes in, Sevilla were denied when Youssef En-Nesyri’s thunderous volley was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Tomas Souček levelled the aggregate score just on the stroke of half time, heading home a brilliant Michael Antonio cross.
In the second half, West Ham came close to taking the lead, Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a brilliant double save to deny Manuel Lanzini.
Sevilla also had a fantastic opportunity to snatch it from West Ham, Jesús Manuel Corona played a lofted ball through to En-Nesyri who fired his first-time volley just wide.
With the aggregate score level at the final whistle, the game went to extra-time. Yarmolenko tapped home for the Hammers after Fornals’ curled shot was parried by Bounou.
Souček said: “It was one of the best games I have played here, the atmosphere right from the start was amazing. For sure I will never forget this game and hopefully we can go on.
“Sevilla was one of the hardest teams we could draw. We will watch the draw at training, but if we can beat Sevilla we can beat any of the teams.”
Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui admitted that West Ham were the better team and deserved to win, he said: “I don’t think it was a question of hunger. They managed to win the game, they played well, and we have to congratulate West Ham.
“We tried really hard but couldn’t do anything at the end unfortunately.
“We will go home with a feeling of sadness for the fans.”
West Ham vs Sevilla – Inquest Piece
For the first time since they moved there, the London Stadium felt like home in West Ham’s thrilling 2-0 victory over Sevilla in the Europa League.
Goals from Tomáŝ Souček and Andriy Yarmolenko sent the Hammers through to the quarter finals for the first time in the club’s history.
West Ham lost the first leg in Sevilla last week 1-0, West Ham manager David Moyes pleaded with fans to create an incredible atmosphere in the second leg.
And that’s exactly what they did. Moyes admitted after the game that it was the best game he had ever seen at the London Stadium, he said: “The atmosphere was so good.
“It was a beautiful night in London tonight.
“What we haven’t seen is the chance to play really big games like the Europa League or Champions League, and I believe that we will be soon.”
Defeating serial winners Sevilla will go down as one of the greatest moments in the club’s history.
Just two years ago, the Hammers were staring relegation right in the eyes. They were a team who lacked any creativity, drive and most importantly passion on the pitch.
Now, they are a team who is challenging for Champions League football, beating members of the ‘big six’ with ease and the newfound atmosphere at the London Stadium may be a reason why.
Initially, fans hated the move because Upton Park was such an iconic place to watch football, opposition teams hated the intimidating atmosphere the fans created.
But there has been a noticeable change in the buzz around the London stadium this year, finally the manager has produced a product the fans can be proud of.
It wasn’t always easy for the Hammers at their new home, co-chairman David Sullivan told the fans it would only take six months to settle into their new stadium.
‘Six months’ turned into four nasty years with multiple protests, pitch invasions and verbal abuse at the board members for ruining what West Ham once had.
Most notably, a 3-0 loss to Burnley in 2018 included three pitch invasions with one fan carrying the corner flag to the half-way line and being tackled by Mark Noble.
Now West Ham fans are treated to brilliant football every week. A manager who has revolutionised the squad and board owners who have stepped up investment. It’s a great time to be a West Ham fan.