West Ham United 2 Sevilla 0 (Aggregate 2-1) Europa League Round of 16
Hope everyone is safe and well.
Holding on as we did against an in form Newcastle on Saturday 4th February felt as if the tide has turned with some excellent performances across the pitch. 1-0 within the first few minutes after a shocking lapse of concentration felt like a punch in the gut but the team rallied and grew into the match and held on despite some late pressure.
Well, let’s buckle up take our Delorean time machine back to Thursday 17th March 2022 when we hosted Sevilla in the last 16 of the Europa League, 1-0 down front he first leg, a mountain to climb it seemed, but the atmosphere was perfect for a most famous comeback.
My focus in the photos below is that fantastic goal scored by Yarmolenko after Fornals had shot from the edge of the box and Sevilla’s goalkeeper Bono spilled the ball into the path of Yarmolenko who, cool as you like, taps the ball into the net deep into extra time.
The noise and shear emotion of the crowd and the team going wild once the ball stretched the back of the net to secure a 2-0 victory was breathtaking. Yarmolenko had returned the week before from compassionate leave to score against Aston Villa and topped it off by sending us into the next round of the Europa League.
Our form was starting to falter a little, but who would have wanted to be drawn against us in the Quarter Finals? We had attacked this competition and deserved our place after struggling away in the first leg.
“We were massive,” Moyes said. “We played with great passion. It’s not just Yarmolenko. It was the team. His message and his name will be heard all round Europe. But the story is not just about Yarmolenko. The story was about West Ham.”
And what a team performance, Antonio tirelessly running channels, Rice imperious in midfield, Zouma and Dawson massive in defence and Johnson who kept Antony Martial quiet before he was taken off at half time.
Soucek’s headed goal set up for a tense second half and just when you thought the game would go to penalties in extra time, Yarmolenko was there to send the Hammers through and round off one of the most amazing nights under the lights at London Stadium.
Enjoy the photos and memories from the match.
Take care
Dawud
From the Stands 