Every chance for the Hammers as two big hitters crash out of the Europa Conference League while West Ham cruise.
If West Ham were one of the favourites to win the Conference League before tonight, then they could be THE favourites now.
The Hammers already had one foot in the quarter-finals following the 2-0 win away at AEK Larnaca last week.
And David Moyes’ side emphatically finished the job in the second leg at the London Stadium winning 4-0 on the night to seal a 6-0 aggregate victory.
The Hammers are now in Friday’s double draw at the UEFA headquarters which will see West Ham find out not only who they will face in the quarter-finals next month but also the two teams they could meet should they make the semi-finals.
And it has to be said the competition is seriously opening up for the Irons.
Every chance as two big hitters crash out of Europa Conference League while West Ham cruise
There is every chance as two big hitters crash out of the Europa Conference League while West Ham cruise.
Both Lazio and Villarreal – two of the big tips to go all the way in this competition – are OUT following aggregate defeats to AZ Alkmaar and Anderlecht respectively.
West Ham already know they have the beating of Villarreal’s conquerors Anderlecht having won twice against them in the group stage.
The other five teams West Ham could face in the quarter-finals are Gent, Lech Poznan, Basel, Fiorentina or Nice.
Goals from Gianluca Scamacca, a Jarrod Bowen double and a first official senior West Ham goal for young striker Divin Mubama made things comfortable against the 10 men of Larnaca.
Former Hammer Felipe Anderson scored in Lazio’s 2-1 defeat at Alkmaar but it wasn’t enough to save them from a 4-2 aggregate defeat.
January target Terem Moffi scored as Nice won 4-1 win on aggregate against Sheriff Tiraspol.
There was also a goal for another longstanding West Ham target – Nikola Milenkovic – as he helped Fiorentina to a 5-1 aggregate victory over Sivasspor.
Now the serious stuff begins.
Let’s hope we can take some confidence into the fight for Premier League survival.