The hosts were in buoyant mood after coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday, but their start to the game could hardly be described as fast and purposeful.
Gent ought to have taken the lead, or at least forced Alphonse Areola into a difficult save after eight minutes when Sven Kums’ inviting ball into the area somehow evaded the unmarked Gift Orban, who should have made some sort of contact from point-blank range.
This glaring miss was soon forgotten by the Belgians though, and with the half-hour mark approaching they took advantage of some woeful West Ham play. After pouncing on a cheap giveaway by Lucas Paquetá in midfield, a cross was directed goalwards by Hugo Cuypers, whose volley went in off the shoulder of Nayef Aguerd, who was focusing so much on not handling the ball that he failed to clear it to safety and paid the ultimate price.
This goal stunned the home crowd, who have seen their team win all five home games in the UECL this season, however eight minutes before HT that familiar feeling returned when Michail Antonio rose highest to head home from Jarrod Bowen’s free-kick to restore parity.
Prior to this round, West Ham were the second-highest-scoring team in the UECL (30), and they came flying out of the traps after the break. Tomáš Souček saw his shot come back off the bar from close range, before the lively Bowen’s shot was pushed around the post.
This would prove to be the precursor to a simply sensational eight minutes for the hosts.
First, Paquetá converted from the penalty spot after Núrio Fortuna had handled inside the area, before home favourite Declan Rice brought the house down when a run from inside his own half ended with the Hammers captain finding the right-hand corner.
With Gent dazed and wondering what had just happened, West Ham knew they had to keep their foot down, and five minutes later they completed the blitz when Antonio’s effort from inside the area found the top right corner to round off a remarkable rout.
Bowen was disappointed to have what would have been a deserved goal ruled out shortly after, but it mattered little in the grand scheme of things as the Hammers sailed through to the last four.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lucas Paquetá (West Ham United)
