Jarrod Bowen’s dramatic 90th-minute goal on Wednesday secured West Ham United their first major European trophy since 1964-1965 with a 2-1 win over ACF Fiorentina in the UEFA Europa Conference League final.
It is the second European trophy for West Ham after they won the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup 58 years ago with a team including England FIFA World Cup heroes Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst.
Bowen picked up a superb through-ball from Lucas Paqueta before sending a low shot past a helpless Pietro Terracciano in the Fiorentina goal.
Photo: AP
Said Benrahma had opened the scoring for West Ham in Prague when he blasted a penalty past Terracciano on 62 minutes after the video assistant referee had caught Cristiano Biraghi handling the ball trying to stop Bowen in the penalty area.
Giacomo Bonaventura leveled five minutes later, beating West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola with a fine, low right-footed effort.
Bonaventura capitalized on a superb header back from Nicolas Gonzalez who had leaped over West Ham fullback Emerson.
The champions’ name will be the second ever on the Conference League trophy following AS Roma, who won the maiden edition last year.
West Ham have also clinched a spot in next season’s Europa League with the win, while Fiorentina missed out on European competition after finishing eighth in Serie A.
West Ham’s previous major trophy was in 1979-1980, when they won the FA Cup.
Wednesday’s game got off to a slow start, although Michail Antonio tested Terracciano with a low shot on 40 seconds.
Fiorentina dominated possession and looked more organized in a largely uneventful first half.
However, they did not come close until stoppage-time, when Christian Kouame headed against the post from Gonzalez’s cross.
Fiorentina striker Luka Jovic then tapped the ball across the line on a rebound, but his goal was ruled out for offside.
Declan Rice’s 13th-minute shot from outside the penalty area whizzed past the post in the Hammers’ best chance of the first half.
Rice might have played his last game for the East Londoners as he is being courted by the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.
The game changed with the goals as both sides suddenly looked far more lively.
Rolando Mandragora sent his shot just wide and Sofyan Amrabat was denied by Areola, while Tomas Soucek’s header was saved by a diving Terracciano.
Before the game, Prague police said they had detained 16 people as Fiorentina fans attacked West Ham supporters in a bar in Prague.
Three people sustained light injuries, police said.
West Ham after the game condemned the alleged behavior of some supporters after Fiorentina captain Biraghi was left bleeding after being hit by an object thrown from the stands.
Fans threw plastic cups and other objects at Biraghi as he prepared to take a corner during the match and he received medical attention after being struck on the head.
“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 a statement. “These actions have no place in football and do not in any way represent the values of our football club and the overwhelming majority of our supporters.”
“In line with our zero-tolerance approach, anyone identified will have their details passed to the police and will be given an indefinite ban and therefore be unable to enter London Stadium and travel with the club,” it said.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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