West Ham wins Europa Conference final beating Fiorentina 2-1
West Ham overcame nearly 60 years of waiting for a European trophy when Jarrod Bowen’s late-game goal secured a 2–1 win over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
Bowen raced through to Lucas Paqueta’s brilliant pass in the 90th minute and blasted past Pietro Terracciano to give the Hammers a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in Prague on Wednesday.
The victory gave West Ham their first silverware since the 1980 FA Cup and their first European trophy for 58 years.
Bowen told BT Sport: “You always say you want to score in the last minute and you want to do it here for these fans. I thought I was going to cry.”
“I’m so happy. We haven’t had the best season, neither have I, but to do it tonight I’m over the moon,” he said.
“I think in my position if you make that run ten times you might get that ball once. Once you have it you have to put it away.
Bowen had previously won the penalty from which Said Benrahma opened the scoring, but Giacomo Bonaventura equalized for Serie A side Fiorentina just four minutes later.
Fiorentina had no answer to Bowen’s goal despite nearly eight minutes of stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations among West Ham players as they danced for their fans after winning the London club’s second-ever European title and the first since the old European Cup II in 1965.
Dancing for joy! 🕺 pic.twitter.com/thBfMX3H4M
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 7, 2023
West Ham only finished 14th in the Premier League, but went unbeaten throughout their European campaign, coming through qualifying before winning 12 of their 13 games in the tournament. The victory also earns the team a place in the Europa League next season.
“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 jeopardized earlier this season as the team struggled near the league’s relegation zone . .
Moyes became the first Scottish coach to win a UEFA competition since 2008, when Alex Ferguson claimed his second Champions League title with Manchester United.
Fiorentina dominated possession in the first half and almost took the lead just before half-time when Christian Kouame’s header bounced off the post. Luka Jovic headed in the rebound, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Fiorentina wait even longer than West Ham for a European title, having also won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1961.
It became the first club to reach the final in four major continental competitions and looked to have done enough to force extra time before Bowen evaded the offside trap to get on goal.
“I honestly didn’t think it would end like this tonight,” said Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano.
Vincenzo Italiano 🎙 #ForzaViola #Fiorentina #ACFFioorentina #UECLfinal pic.twitter.com/4xEMoSaAFK
— ACF Fiorentina English (@ACFFiorentinaEN) June 7, 2023
“We played well, had chances, [and] immediately equalized after a penalty kick that could have finished us off. We reacted, we had a great opportunity with Mandragora,” he said.
“Then with a ball in the middle, we didn’t make the right move in defense, and it was all over. The boys were destroyed,” he added.
fan violence
But the match and post-match celebrations were also marred by violence.
West Ham issued a statement condemning the behavior of some of their supporters after Fiorentina defender Cristiano Biraghi was left bleeding from an object thrown from the crowd during the match.
The game was goalless in the 35th minute when Biraghi crossed to take a corner kick before the end of the Eden Arena, where West Ham supporters were seated. The player was struck by what appeared to be a vape pen as cups and other objects rain down on him.
Biraghi needed a headband to continue after referee Carlos del Cerro Grande briefly stopped the match and a stadium announcement issued a warning to fans to stop throwing things and respect the players and officials before the match could go ahead.
“West Ham United unreservedly condemn the behavior of a small number of individuals who threw objects onto the pitch during tonight’s UEFA Europa Conference League final,” the club said in the statement.
Some West Ham fans also clashed with riot police in Prague after the game on Wednesday night, when a scuffle broke out after police officers attempted to confiscate a flaming flare as fans gathered in the city’s Old Town.. Riot police stormed a group after they lit a second flare, to which fans responded by pelting the officers with bottles and other projectiles.
Earlier in the day, Czech police said they had detained at least 16 Italian fans after attacking West Ham supporters outside a bar, with videos shared on social media showing chair throwing and firecrackers.
The celebrations were initially benign after the game, with revelers hugging and kissing and dancing on tables in bars.
