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West Ham win the UEFA Conference League vs Fiorentina! Goals by Benrahma & Bowen.
In a thrilling final match in Prague on Wednesday night, West Ham United defeated Fiorentina 2-1 to win the second season of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Luka Jovic believed he had given Fiorentina the lead in the first half stoppage time when Alphonse Areola mishandled Christian Kouame’s header, but VAR intervened following a protracted offside examination. Fiorentina controlled the game for extensive stretches without really posing a danger.
Early in the second half, Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi was given a penalty for a handball in the area after previously being injured by a projectile thrown by West Ham supporters in the crowd.
Said Benrahma confidently converted the resulting spot-kick. However, Giacomo Bonaventura equalized less than five minutes later with a beautiful finish into the far corner. The game was then becoming stretched when Rolando Mandragora missed a great opportunity to totally change the course of the match.
Until Lucas Paqueta slipped in Bowen, who still had a lot to do but finished coolly to win West Ham’s first trophy since 1965, it appeared like extra time might be necessary. This led to raucous celebrations.
Many of Fiorentina’s attacking players impressed throughout the entire game, but Bowen deserves all the praise for permanently inking his name in Hammers history with a superbly taken goal, a true critical moment. A particular mention should also go to midfielder Declan Rice, who is unstoppable.
Pietro Terracciano of Fiorentina will be reflecting on his failure to stop Bowen’s goal and what could have been. Biraghi will also be kicking himself for making a careless handball that led to Benrahma’s penalty.
Going into this final, David Moyes’ status as West Ham’s manager was in question, but now the club looks up to him for guiding them to victory in Europe. If he chooses to, he now appears certain to remain in his position.
YOUR UEFA EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ZJNXnaF7uu
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 7, 2023