UEFA Europa Conference League Final 2022–23: West Ham Edge Past Fiorentina 2–1 to Secure Their First Major European Title in 43 years.
Jarrod Bowen’s goal in the 90th minute helped West Ham United secure an edgy 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the final match of the UEFA Europa Conference League. With this win, West Ham claimed their first major European title.
After Giacomo-Bonaventura's well-placed shot just seven minutes later wiped out Said Benrahma's second-half penalty, it appeared like the match would go into extra time.
A plastic bottle hurled from the West Ham fans struck Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi during a testy and occasionally heated game. At that point, things turned violent.
The most dramatic way possible was used to end the game.
As Lucas-Paqueta threaded a beautiful pass through the Fiorentina defence, Bowen timed his run to perfection.
The England player broke free, collected himself, and calmly beat Pietro-Terracciano to excite the Hammers supporters—who were many more in number than the 5,000 tickets they were given—and send manager David-Moyes sprinting down the sidelines to celebrate his first major trophy of his career.
It means captain Declan Rice, in probably his final game for the club, emulated club greats Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds by leading the club to glory.
- Moore captained West Ham to the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup and Bonds led them to the FA Cup in 1975 and 1980.
- The victory also seals a place in next season's Europa League and means European football for the third year running for the first time in the club's history.
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