West Ham United vs SC Freiburg. UEFA Europa League Round of 16.
London StadiumAttendance51,014.
5-1
Match report as West Ham thrashed Freiburg 5-0 to move into the Europa League quarter-finals; Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen overturned the 1-0 first leg deficit in the first half, before Aaron Cresswell struck after half-time; Mohammed Kudus then scored a stunning late double
Thursday 14 March 2024 23:47, UK
Mohammed Kudus' stunning double rounded off a superb evening for West Ham, who breezed into the Europa League quarter-finals with a 5-1 aggregate win over Freiburg.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Germany, the Hammers took just 32 minutes to overturn the deficit as Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen both struck, before Aaron Cresswell gave the Hammers' a two-goal lead just after half-time.
Then came the first of two exquisite strikes from Kudus. First, the Ghana winger picked the ball up in his own half before beating three defenders and eventually stroking the ball home. Then he rifled home Bowen's lay-off from the edge of the box to make it five.
"If anyone remembers those dribbling wingers who used to run and take people on with snaky hips and find a way through, that was a little bit of that tonight," said West Ham manager David Moyes of the first goal.
"That was a brilliant individual goal. It was a Roy of the Rovers-type goal."
The win gave West Ham a European quarter-final for the third consecutive year, while beating German side Freiburg significantly boosted England's chance of getting a fifth Champions League place in UEFA's co-efficient table.
West Ham fans made it in time for an early kick-off through the rush hour - and their team were in a rush to reduce their first-leg deficit. Bowen nearly scored an early opener when Vladimir Coufal's throw-in found him at the near post in the box, but Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu tipped his effort over the bar.
The Hammers then put the pressure on with three successive corners - and they scored from the third. Cresswell's outswinger was headed on by Tomas Soucek, with Paqueta on hand to tap home the simplest of finishes.
Freiburg then went up the other end and nearly had their lead back. Max Eggestein played striker Roland Sallai in behind the Hammers backline with just Lukasz Fabianski to beat, but he dragged his effort wide when he should have done better.
Kudus then missed a chance to get a second as he somehow put Michail Antonio's cross from the right wide with the goal gaping, but that elusive lead in the tie would eventually come from the Hammers.
Good Antonio hold-up play saw Bowen latch onto the ball around 35 yards out. The England international, recalled to Gareth Southgate's squad earlier in the day, hammered an effort home from the edge of the box after being too strong for Eggestein.
Freibrug wrapped up a poor first half as Eggestein and Vincenzo Grifo both barely tested Fabianski with shots from inside the box - a reminder that West Ham's German counterparts were still there.
But they were put out of the game just seven minutes into the second half as Bowen's cross from the right was cleared as far as Cresswell, who fired home in off the post.
From then on, the result was a formality. Freiburg had more attempts but none of them meaningful. Meanwhile, the 'Oles' emanated from the home fans on regular occasions.
Those then turned into 'oohs', 'aahs', then cheers as Kudus took the ball from inside his own half, beat three defenders at pace to race into the penalty box before rolling into the net.
The West Ham winger's second goal was not as good, but certainly eye-catching as Bowen teed him up for a long-range effort, which nestled home for his side's fifth.
West Ham manager David Moyes:
"I think for West Ham, for three years in the quarter-finals of European competition, I don't know if it's done been before in the club's history.
"From where we have come from, a team avoiding relegation, to first make Europe, do it a second year, then win a trophy, is a brilliant achievement.
"The club have moved on so much over the last few years, it's been hard to put out how good it has been. We want to make it better if we can.
"When I came back in, I said I didn't want to be manager of a team in the bottom of the league. I want to be part of a team challenging higher up. In the main, we have been that.
"I wouldn't say proud but I'm really pleased I've been able to give West Ham something. We've brought in good players, look at Kudus' performance. Everyone knows what Paqueta can do, Bowen has come from a lower league club and is now an England international. There are a lot of good things that have happened at West Ham."
Freiburg manager Christian Steiner:
"Sounds a bit strange, everything seemed ok. The way we stared was alright. Then we lose the three corners in a row, lose the physical duel. Then Paqueta scores 1-0.
"We didn't have a chance to equalise through Roland Sallai. Then we lost another physical duel and concede the second goal. I didn't feel West Ham dominated us for 90 minutes, but unlucky things like that happen.
"These things sometime unfold, then the goals in the second half showed how much quality West Ham have with their players. That's how we ended up with the result.
"This match will have no impact on my decision regarding my future. I would be ridiculous for one match to do that. Next week, we will tell you. I can't put the blame on my team. West Ham had the quality and we lost."
Analysis by Sky Sports' Sam Blitz at the London Stadium:
Harry Redknapp won at Cheltenham, then West Ham won in Europe.
David Moyes said before the game he thought the former Hammers' boss horse racing triumph earlier in the day would be a good omen.
A lot has been said about 'Moyesball' with anti-Moyes banners, booing and disgruntlement all common practice among the Hammers fans - despite them currently sitting in a European place in the league table and now in the Europa League last eight.
Yes, when results do not go their way, Moyes' style of play looks bad and frustrating. But it produces results, especially in Europe.
Here, Freiburg were allowed to have the ball by West Ham but it was pragmatic from the Hammers, not negative. It was not defensive, it was efficient - given three goals came from fast breaks and one via a set-piece. West Ham are among the best Premier League teams in both those categories.
"West Ham are massive" rang around the London Stadium on Thursday night, as did "Champions of Europe" - they are both those things because of Moyes.
In the last three years, the Scot has delivered a European trophy, a European semi-final and now a European quarter-final, at least. Some clubs would dream for such a run, so what more do the fans want?
Moyes is West Ham's longest-serving manager since Redknapp. But negativity could push a successful servant out.
West Ham return to Premier League action on Sunday as the Hammers host Champions League-chasing Aston Villa; kick-off 2pm.
Freiburg's final game before the March international break will see them host Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday; kick-off 2.30pm, live on Sky Sports.
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