British Club West Ham defeated Danish club Viborg FF in Conference League qualifying play-offs by 3-1. Playing without their manager David Moyes and captain Declan Rice, West Ham put on a brilliant show. Their new signing Gianluca Scamacca, Jarrod Bowen, and Michail Antonio scored their respective goals.
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David Moyes was shown a red card last season during their Europa League semi-final match. He watched the match from the stands.
Billy McKinlay took charge of the team in his absence. Scamacca opened the scoring in the 23rd minute converting a cross from Maxwel Cornet.
Both of their new signings thus contributed to the first quarter of the match. Jarrod Bowen smashed another in the bottom right corner with 26 minutes to go.
Viborg immediately got back in the match 5 minutes later through Jakob Bonde’s header. The goal opened up the match during the final quarter.
Michail Antonio had very different plans though. He smashed the third goal for the hosts with 12 minutes to go.
He tapped in the empty net from Benrahma’s low cross. Thus West Ham will go to the second-leg match with a healthy 2-goal lead.
Reactions from West Ham and Viborg manager after the match
Danish visitors, fifth in their national league scored one goal and might have scored another a few minutes later. They will hope to turn the leg around next week. The two-goal deficit is tough to overcome but their manager believes they aren’t out yet.
“We are not dead and buried,” said Viborg manager Jacob Friis. “Maybe the hole has been dug, but we are not in it yet.”
David Moyes on the other hand has plenty of positives from the match. After a low start in the Premier League, he will look to build upon this win.
They added 5 new players this summer and it will take time for them to click. Good performances from Scamacca and Cornet will significantly boost their confidence.
“We all know strikers are judged on goals,” said Billy McKinlay, West Ham’s first-team coach. “To get off the mark really quickly, in new surroundings, is a big thing for a center-forward. There is plenty more to come from him.”
The second leg will take place in Viborg next Thursday. The winner will join the Conference League group stage when it begins on September 8.
