London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 12, 2025

Stunning second-half sends West Ham into another European semi-final

Stunning second-half sends West Ham into another European semi-final

Hammers into the final four of a continental competition for the second season running
West Ham came from behind to book their spot in the Europa Conference League semi-finals.

David Moyes’ side produced a brilliant second-half display to beat Gent 4-1 and win the tie 5-1 on aggregate, teeing up a meeting with AZ Alkmaar in the final four.

The hosts flew out the traps in the opening stages as, for the first time in the tie, they looked to flex their muscle.

Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta, two players the Belgian league as a whole could only dream of housing, were heavily involved in a lively West Ham start and the latter found Michail Antonio in a dangerous position.

Antonio then teed up Jarrod Bowen but his shot was blocked and Paqueta could not follow in the rebound.

From there, however, the tempo dropped.

As Gent grew in confidence, the Hammers creaked. Paqueta needlessly gave the ball away in midfield and a lack of aggression to win it back spread like wildfire throughout the whole team, leaving Matisse Samoise completely unmarked high up on the right-hand side.

While his shot was saved, Hugo Cuypers was there to hit the opener on a half-volley to take an early advantage.

Still, just as they did against Arsenal, West Ham dug out a response.

First, Emerson Palmieri weaved in from the left and struck a lovely shot towards the top corner before it was palmed way. Slowly but surely, the home side were building a platform.

After a number of poor decisions with their final ball, West Ham finally had their breakthrough. Bowen’s wicked free-kick delivery met Antonio in the box and the forward was able to use the pace of the ball to glance in past Davy Roef in the Gent goal.

Half-time had appeared to come at a bad time for the home side, who ended the opening 45 minutes in ascendancy.

Though Moyes’ team have hardly been renowned for their ability to sustain pressure, eight stunning minutes after the interval sealed their progress.

Paqueta struck a brilliant penalty after a lengthy VAR check as West Ham dominated the opening ten minutes of the second half. With that sense of relief bounding around the London Stadium, Rice embarked on a stunning solo run to lash in the third as their opponents finally crumbled.

By the time Antonio bagged his brace, Gent were ready for the final whistle.

The flicks and tricks then came out as the Hammers coasted through the closing stages and dreamt of a European final in May.

In the second half at least, they underlined their status as favourites for the tournament.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
×