West Ham beat Fiorentina to win Europa Conference League

West Ham declared a very first European prize in 58 years on Wednesday night thanks to a really late Jarrod Bowen objective in the Europa Conference League last versus Fiorentina.

Declan Rice, in what might have been his last video game for the club, ended up being the very first Hammers captain because the late Bobby Moore in 1965 to raise continental flatware – on that event Moore lifted the Cup Winners’ Cup. Having reached last season’s Europa League semi-finals last season, it was the club’s very first look in any European last because 1976.

Fiorentina controlled ownership and had more than two times as lots of shots on objective as West Ham throughout 90 minutes. But it stayed goal-less up until simply over an hour had actually been played when Said Benrahma broke the deadlock from the charge area.

That lead lasted hardly whenever at all prior to Giacomo Bonaventura had actually equalised. But the Hammers nabbed triumph at the death when Bowen was sent out through on objective and kept his composure to end up beyond the onrushing Pietro Terracciano.

“I obviously dreamed of scoring but to score the winner in the last minute. It’s what you always say you want to do. To do it in front of these fans. I thought I was going to cry. I’m just happy,” Bowen informed BT Sport directly after the last whistle.

“We had a dream, we haven’t had the best season, myself included, but to give these fans this moment, I’m over the moon. 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.

“Never [have I felt like this in my life]. This is the most significant video game of my profession. The feeling, there was time for another opportunity. I’m so delighted. I’m over the moon.”

A disappointing Premier League season saw West Ham battling against relegation for much of the domestic campaign. But the Europa Conference League was a welcome tonic throughout. They enjoyed a perfect 100% record in the group stage, before winning all but one knockout game – the only minor blip was a 1-1 draw in the quarter-final first leg against Gent.

West Ham’s prize for winning the competition, aside from the trophy itself, is a place in next season’s Europa League group stage.