Andriy Yarmolenko was once more the hero for West Ham as his extra-time objective knocked out Sevilla and despatched the Hammers into the Europa League quarter-finals after a 2-0 victory on the evening and 2-1 win on mixture.
It was Yarmolenko’s second objective in as many video games for West Ham since his return from compassionate go away following the battle in his native Ukraine.
Trailing 1-0 from the primary leg, Tomas Soucek’s first-half header introduced West Ham stage within the tie and whereas the Hammers managed a lot of the second leg on the London Stadium, they may not discover the decisive second objective in regular time.
Their huge second finally got here within the second half of additional time as Yarmolenko, who got here on as an 87th-minute substitute, reacted quickest after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou parried Pablo Fornals’ strike to faucet house the rebound and spark but extra emotional scenes.
Yarmolenko was just a little bit emotional away from the lads afterwards. For what he is been by means of to carry out like this can be a credit score to him – his want, the best way he chased gamers and scored two essential targets. He deserves this. He stepped up. I’m delighted for him.
The Ukraine worldwide’s strike proved to be the decisive objective as West Ham knocked out the six-time winners to guide their place in Friday’s draw for the final eight as their exceptional European journey continues.
Moyes: Nights like this actually enable you construct
West Ham boss David Moyes instructed BT Sport afterwards: “This shall be as excessive as we have had. We have had different nights. Avoiding relegation was an unimaginable excessive however fortunately we have moved on from that.
“Beating a serial winner of this competitors made it a bit extra particular. They only maintain going. You could possibly see the resilience in them. We carry on going.
“For the primary 20 minutes we have been the higher aspect with out creating many probabilities. They grew to become stronger earlier than half-time.
“The message was we knew we needed to maintain hanging in. That was extra prefer it tonight. Within the second half our depth was nice till 70 minutes then it dropped off. We picked up once more in additional time and saved at it. We have not bought the trophy but. There are nonetheless powerful video games to go.
“Nights like this actually enable you construct. I assumed Sevilla have been in all probability the favourites for the match. For us to beat them over two legs is an unimaginable consequence.”
Declan Rice begins the celebrations towards Sevilla
Yarmolenko had been granted compassionate go away after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and missed West Ham’s 1-0 loss within the first leg in Spain attributable to sickness.
He reacted sharply to a rebound, nevertheless, to ship the London membership right into a European quarter-final for the primary time since 1981 and knock out Sevilla, the document six-times winners of the competitors.
Yarmolenko gave his shirt to a fan with a Ukraine flag as he celebrated a win that began when Soucek headed in Antonio’s cross on the far publish to place West Ham in entrance 5 minutes earlier than half-time.
Moyes stated he hoped the objective would raise Yarmolenko, including: “We have all been there the place you are shedding and also you assume there is no likelihood that we will get a consequence.
“In soccer issues change for you. So I hope perhaps this modifications just a little bit of what is in Yarmo’s head, perhaps what’s occurring in life.
“However total, if he is getting talked about worldwide after which everyone else is realising the harm Russia is doing to Ukraine.”
How emotional evening in east London unfolded…
After a cagey opening, West Ham wanted a shocking one-handed save from Alphonse Areola to maintain out Youssef En-Nesyri’s highly effective strike.
The sport began to open up and Mentioned Benrahma’s brilliantly disguised cross launched Antonio, however the striker’s shot was palmed away by goalkeeper Bounou earlier than Nemanja Gudelj bought to the rebound forward of Soucek to clear.
West Ham bought their objective moments later to convey the tie stage on the evening. Antonio was concerned once more, and his inch-perfect cross picked out Soucek, who guided the ball past Bounou and into the far nook.
After the break, the Hammers went on the assault instantly as they appeared to seize a decisive second objective. Declan Rice arrange Soucek, however the midfielder’s first-time strike was batted away by Bounou.
The stress continued to rise as Manuel Lanzini was denied by Bounou, however probabilities have been changing into few and much between as the sport meandered in direction of additional time.
An additional half-hour have been wanted and plenty of house followers thought they’d taken the lead within the tie when Soucek latched onto Dawson’s knockdown on the far publish. The web bulged however the crashed into the aspect netting as an enormous likelihood went begging for Moyes’ aspect.
Nevertheless, then got here West Ham and Yarmolenko’s second to spark wild celebrations on the London Stadium.
Man of the match Michail Antonio: ‘This season is sort of a dream come true’
Michail Antonio (10 targets, 10 assists) grew to become solely the second participant to each rating 10+ targets and help 10+ targets for Premier League golf equipment in all competitions this season, after Mo Salah (28 targets, 10 assists), whereas he’s the primary to take action for West Ham in a single marketing campaign since Dimitri Payet in 2015-16 (12 targets, 15 assists).
Antonio instructed BT Sport: “It has been unbelievable. This season has been like a dream come true. First time in Europe for me, managed to develop into West Ham’s all-time Premier League goalscorer, and we’re simply having fun with our soccer.
“We got here into the sport believing we might dominate. From the primary half, we have been onto them, driving and creating probabilities. We felt that if we continued enjoying the best way we have been, we might get the win.
“Andriy’s bought the final touch proper now and I am so completely happy for him. I hope he can maintain doing it.
“The one ambiance that compares to this was the ultimate day on the Boleyn Floor. We got here out right here and the followers have been singing. The ambiance was an absolute joke as we speak. I give the win to the followers. They have been the twelfth man so that they’re those who did it for us.”
Opta stats: Sevilla undergo first EL defeat to English opposition…
Tomas Soucek places West Ham forward on the evening towards Sevilla
West Ham have reached the quarter-final of a serious European competitors for the primary time because the 1980-81 Cup Winners’ Cup.
Sevilla have misplaced every of their final six European competitors matches which have gone to extra-time, three within the Tremendous Cup and three within the UEFA Europa League.
Sevilla suffered their first UEFA Cup/Europa League defeat to an English opponent (P9 W6 D2 L1).
Andriy Yarmolenko has scored 13 UEFA Europa League targets, the second-most of any Ukrainian participant, behind solely Júnior Moraes (14). Yarmolenko has discovered the online in back-to-back appearances for West Ham in all competitions for the primary time since September 2019.
What’s subsequent?
Sunday twentieth March 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
The Europa League quarter-final and semi-final attracts will happen on Friday, March 18 at 12pm UK time, with the balls being drawn out at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. It is possible for you to to observe all three attracts throughout Sky Sports activities’ digital platforms.
West Ham return to Premier League motion on Sunday by visiting Tottenham, stay on Sky Sports activities Premier League and Most important Occasion; kick-off 4.30pm. Sevilla host Actual Sociedad on the identical day in La Liga at 5.30pm.
