Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen fired West Ham into the knockout phases of the Europa Conference League in a 2-1 win over Anderlecht.
The Hammers, final season’s Europa League semi-finalists, ensured a second successive run to the latter phases of continental competitors with a fourth win from 4 Group B matches.
They now want only a level from their final two video games, in opposition to Danish facet Silkeborg and Romania’s FCSB, to make sure they end high of the group and transfer straight into the spherical of 16, avoiding a play-off in February.
However, among the gloss was taken off their achievement by crowd hassle which required riot police to intervene.
The hosts took the lead within the thirteenth minute when Anderlecht enforcer Amadou Diawara fouled Benrahma on the sting of the field.
Aaron Cresswell had moments earlier curled a free-kick over however this time he stepped over the ball, permitting Benrahma to whip his shot right-footed over the wall and contained in the close to publish.
After half an hour the Hammers had their second, Emerson Palmieri galloping down the left earlier than pulling the ball again for Bowen to complete from 15 yards.
The purpose made Bowen West Ham’s joint main scorer in Europe with six, alongside Johnny Byrne and David Cross.
He ought to have moved out on his personal with seven moments later when Cresswell lower the ball again, however the England hopeful missed his kick in entrance of purpose.
Anderlecht, whose boisterous followers lit 5 flares in the best way finish, certainly one of which landed close to the pitch, threatened to spoil the get together when Yari Verschaeren drilled narrowly large and Sebastiano Esposito compelled a fingertip save from Alphonse Areola.
But it was largely plain crusing for the hosts and Pablo Fornals, on on the break for Lucas Paqueta, ought to have hit a 3rd solely to see his shot blocked by Diawara on the six-yard line.
Bowen was given a relaxation after an hour by David Moyes with Gianluca Scamacca despatched on, and the Italian nearly transformed a cross from Fornals whereas Benrahma put a header narrowly large from Vladimir Coufal’s centre.
It ought to have been an finally comfy evening for West Ham, though the scenes within the stands have been depressingly disagreeable.
A pitch invader briefly halted play earlier than missiles have been hurled between units of rival followers together with one other flare which landed within the dwelling finish.
While attentions have been targeted on the nonsense within the crowd Anderlecht scored a comfort from the penalty spot by way of Esposito after a foul by Ben Johnson.
Source: www.impartial.co.uk