Glory for the Irons as they down Europa League specialists Sevilla

The tannoy billed it as West Ham’s biggest ever night at the London Stadium. They weren’t wrong.

West Ham arrived trailing 1-0 from the first leg and overturned it with an extra-time winner from Ukrainian winger Andriy Yarmalenko.

David Moyes took over a West Ham side three points above the relegation zone in December 2019. 28 months later, they sit sixth in the Premier League and have cruised into the quarter-finals of the Europa League. RB Leipzig and Barcelona apart, the rest of the draw looks less formidable than the side they just eliminated.

The myth that the London Stadium cannot produce an atmosphere was busted for good as 59,981, including 900 Sevilla fans, rocked the arena from well before the start to after the finish. That was just seven short of the club record attendance set against Everton in March 2019.

The Hammers were without Jarrod Bowen up front but such was the domination of their midfield, ably led by Declan Rice and Pablo Fornals, that their relative profligacy in the first 40 minutes did not harm them.

The Hammers outplayed Sevilla in almost every department with Pablo Fornals and Aaron Cresswell especially looking to be international class players.

A Tomas Soucek header just before half-time was a just reward for all their first-half pressure. For the Andalusians, Joan Jordan and Yousseff En-Nesyri were somewhat spectacularly off form and missed most of the best chances Sevilla created, starting as early as the seventh minute when the Moroccan blasted Anthony Martial’s cross over the bar. Jordan was equally at fault just after the half-hour when a headed clearance fell at his feet, the former Eibar midfielder firing very widely.

Not that the Hammers weren’t equally wasteful. Michail Antonio had failed to get enough purchase three minutes earlier allowing Yassine Bounou to gather easily.

The breakthrough came six minutes before half-time. Antonio sent over a superb hanging cross from the left. Soucek timed his jump well and then demonstrated perfect hang time to meet the ball with his head and loop it over Bounou.

It was no more than West Ham deserved.

Any fear that Julen Lopetegui’s side would come out roaring after a ‘vibrant half-time discussion‘ proved unfounded and it took ten minutes before they threatened but En-Nesyri was woefully off target.

Rice and Fornals controlled the game for much of the period thereafter. The Hammers were especially successful at winning back possession immediately after losing it, realising that Sevilla were at their most vulnerable when newly introduced to possession, but still in defensive formation.

Jesus Corona missed Sevilla’s best chance in the 71st minute having been set up En-Nesyri for once acting as creator rather than waster. Corona blazed it over Alphonse Areola’s bar.

Three minutes before the full-time whistle, West Ham manager Davie Moyes brought Yarmalenko on.

West Ham dominated extra time with Soucek just unable to guide the ball to the correct side of the post eight minutes in, but the moment that would electrify East London was merely minutes away.

The tie was nine minutes from penalties when Bounou could only push out a Fornals long-range effort. Yarmolenko was first to react and the Ukrainian calmly slid in the winner. Hammers finally led on aggregate and they never let go.

Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko found fans in the crowd with his national flag as he hugged them. “Twist and Shout’ was blaring out. Club legend Mark Noble, who has seen most things, was in tears on the pitch.

A short trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium awaits on Sunday. It’s a vital match in the battle for European places. After this match, West Ham know exactly how glittering that prize could be.

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