A GOAL that will last a lifetime in the hearts of West Ham fans.
At the end of what was a gritty, ballsy, nerve-wracking, heroic and at times dull and tedious, backs-to-the-wall Moyes-ball display in Alkmaar, Pablo Fornals broke free and found the bottom corner.
It sparked delirium in the away end. David Moyes and the rest of the visiting dug-out sprinted onto the pitch and danced and jived.
Ugly scenes followed. A group of Hammers supporters behind that dug-out – including family members of the players – were attacked by a large group of AZ Alkmaar ultras.
Riot police entered. Said Benrahma and Flynn Downes tried to climb over the hoardings to try and protect their own in what, briefly, were frightening times.
Thankfully, the situation was defused quickly, as Rice ushered his heroic team-mates over towards the more heavily populated end of travelling fans for a sing and a jolly.
Nothing was going to take this moment away from them. West Ham are in a European final.
Last season’s Europa League semi-final heartbreak against Eintracht Frankfurt was as thrilling and dramatic as they come.
Red cards, accusations of corruption, ball boys being used for target practice, all at West Ham’s expense as dreams were crushed and hopes dashed.
Moyes insisted they would lick their wounds and learn their lessons. Twelve months on, in the Europa Conference League, they have finally avenged those painful memories.
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The European Cup Winners’ Cup final days far back in the club’s tattered history books have been desperately clung to for some time.
In 1965, Bobby Moore lifted that title. In 1976, Sir Trevor Brooking came agonisingly close.
On June 7, 2023, Declan Rice has the opportunity to etch his own name into that book. Now all that is left is to finish the job in style.
Moyes unashamedly sacked off their weekend loss at Brentford by resting the majority of his key stars with Premier League survival all but secured.
His strongest XI were well rested for the trip across the North Sea, only for a rude 2am awakening on the day of this clash following a trademark piece of Euro tomfoolery.
Alkmaar fans let off a cluster of fireworks outside the Hammers hotel in the hope it would ultimately be the difference against a nemesis of an opponent in Moyes.
The Scot led Everton to a 3-2 Uefa Cup victory here back in 2007, ending the Dutch side’s 32-game and 30-year unbeaten home run in European competitions going back to 1977.
Since then, at a fortress of a ground surrounded by a moat, Alkmaar have never lost here to an English team, and headed into this clash unbeaten in their last 25 home Euro outings.
It is why scenes before kick-off at the AFAS Stadion were ones of pure continental delirium, techno trance blasting from the speakers with flares and smoke aplenty in the stands.
This home support were hoping to witness their side reaching only a second major European final in their history – the last coming back in 1981 only to lose to Ipswich Town.
In response, the Alkmaar players started brightly, in the only way they know how under 50-year-old London-born coach Pascal Jansen – ultimate possession-centric football.
In the first leg, Alkmaar enjoyed over 60 per cent of the ball for large parts only to be let down by a lack of cutting edge – as well as conceding a barmy second-half penalty.
There were early feelings of déjà vu as West Ham sat back and soaked it all up. Perhaps for the first time in this competition, they were in no rush to go toe-for-toe.
This was evidenced by Alphonse Areola in the 11th minute. The French keeper was given a telling off for time-wasting from a goal kick.
West Ham were dropping worryingly deep. Jarrod Bowen at several points was at right back. Moyes remained calm, knowing the counter was where his boys could hit back.
Having scuppered two chances to do so, Lucas Paqueta almost executed perfectly on the third attempt, cutting inside and curling a shot on to the base of the post.
The hosts were beginning to get frustrated, yet their obsessive patience was slowly paying dividends as Vangelis Pavlidis sparked a move down the left.
A scuffed cross trickled past the six-yard box. Nayef Aguerd was then dutifully on hand to block Yukinari Sugawara’s subsequent shot.
There was no injury time at the end of the first half. Just as well for Jansen, who clearly used the extra time to rev up his side and encourage them to take the handbrake off.
They did just that from the get-go. Milos Kerkez darted into the box but his dangerous cross failed to find a teammate before Sven Mijnans forced Areola into a smart stop.
The chances kept coming. West Ham were living life on the edge, and Aguerd’s heart was in his throat after bringing down Pavlidis in the box. It looked stonewall, but not to VAR.
The bombardment was briefly interrupted by Rice’s long-range attempt being palmed away by Mat Ryan. In response, Pantelis Hatzidiakos stung the hands of Areola.
Moyes was agitated. This time last year he watched his men unravel emotionally on a night to forget. This time around, they remained in control but were flirting with the devil.
Heads were in hands in the visitors’ dug-out as Bowen and Aguerd fluffed chances to end Alkmaar’s hopes of a comeback once and for all.
The nerves were kicking in. An overhit cross saw Thilo Kehrer flick the ball towards his own goal as Areola scrambled to clear it off his line.
Rice adjusted his captain’s armband and rallied the troops with a fist-bump. They were so close they could taste it before Fornals stormed forward and clinched it.
Let’s say it again. West Ham are in a European final.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
