With a dramatic 2-1 victory against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final, West Ham snapped a 43-year trophy drought. Jarrod Bowen late goal was the difference.
Luka Jovic’s disallowed goal just before the break was the closest either team came to taking the lead on the crucial Prague stage after a tight opening half that lacked many clear-cut opportunities.
Said Benrahma scored the game’s first goal after Bowen successfully converted a penalty, but just four minutes later, Serie A team Fiorentina’s Giacomo Bonaventura equalized.
Bowen in an interview with BT Sports said it was a dream come true.
“You always say you want to score in the last minute and to do it here in front of these fans. I thought I was going to cry”.
“I’m so happy. We haven’t had the best season, myself included, but to do it tonight, I’m over the moon,” he said.
“I think in my position you make that run 10 times you might get that ball once. As soon as you get it you’ve got to put it away.”
Since Alex Ferguson’s second Champions League championship with Manchester United in 2008, Moyes is the first Scottish coach to have won a UEFA competition.
“I’ve had a long career in football and you don’t get many moments like this,” said West Ham coach David Moyes, whose job was under threat earlier in the season as the team was struggling near the relegation zone in the league.
Even though West Ham only finished 14th in the Premier League, they went undefeated throughout their European run, winning 12 of their 13 games in the competition after qualifying. The victory also guarantees the team a spot in the Europa League next season.
