West Ham beat AEK Larnaca in Europa Conference League
The Guardians were playing at this stage of European football for the first time in their history after only being formed in 1994, but the Cypriot outfit got off to an encouraging start against their Premier League opposition.
AEK put in some dangerous crosses that caused concern for West Ham, especially when Rafael Lopes glanced his header marginally off target after nipping ahead of Michail Antonio to reach Gus Ledes’ corner delivery in the 19th minute.
Manuel Lanzini had the Hammers’ first notable opportunity on the half-hour mark, dragging his shot wide of Kenan Pirić’s post. That moment seemingly brought the Hammers to life, as Antonio capitalised on the space he was afforded in AEK’s box to head in Saïd Benrahma’s pinpoint cross six minutes later, meaning the striker has now scored in UECL qualifying, group stage and knockout rounds.
AEK didn’t heed that warning as Nenad Tomović stood off Antonio moments before the break, and the frontman bent a superb strike from outside the box that left Pirić rooted on its way into the top corner.
Antonio came agonisingly close to completing a perfect hat-trick moments after the break but his shot hit the post and the ball teasingly trickled across goal.
Both managers made a triple change around the hour mark, and it was West Ham’s tempo that dropped after a period of control.
Flynn Downes was shown a yellow that keeps him out of the second leg following a barge on Omri Altman, while Kurt Zouma went unpunished as the Frenchman recovered from an awkward moment in his own box.
There were late chances for both sides with Lucas Paquetá unable to beat Pirić after being played through by Maxwel Cornet, while Alphonse Areola saved Ivan Trichkowski’s effort to ensure West Ham earned just the second win in their last seven matches across all competitions and take a commanding lead back to London Stadium.
On the other hand, AEK’s four-game unbeaten run in the UECL was brought to an end, leaving the Guardians facing an uphill battle for the second leg.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Michail Antonio (West Ham United)
