AEK Larnaca 0-2 West Ham: Visitors close in on Europa Conference League quarter-finals - BBC Sport
By Steve Sutcliffe BBC Sport
Date published: 9 March 20239 March 2023

THU 09 MAR 2023EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE - ROUND OF 16 - 1ST LEG
AEK Larnaca 0
West Ham United 2 Antonio (36', 45'+1) Assists Benrahma (36'), Rice (45'+1)
FT 0-2 HT 0-2

Michail Antonio scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season for West Ham in Cyprus West Ham took a big step towards the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League with a comfortable first-leg victory at AEK Larnaca.

Michail Antonio scored two first-half goals for David Moyes' side, who have now won all nine of their matches in the competition this term.

It was no more than the Hammers deserved with Antonio almost adding a third after the break when he drove a low effort against the right-hand post.

The Cypriot hosts caused the visitors some early problems but West Ham grew in confidence and took the lead when unmarked Antonio headed Said Benrahma's left-wing delivery into the right corner.

With the Premier League side searching for a second, Pablo Fornals drove wide of the left post moments before Antonio doubled the lead when he collected a pass on the edge of the area and superbly curled an effort around his marker into the top-right corner.

Having made wholesale changes to his starting line-up, Moyes also made several substitutions after the break to keep players fresh - the Hammers' top priority clearly being to retain their Premier League status.

The changes impacted on their overall control of the game, but they were still organised enough to hold off their spirited opponents and create openings, with Lucas Paqueta missing a late opportunity to add to the scoring.

Nevertheless, having gone close to Europa League glory last term by reaching the semi-finals, Moyes will have been pleased with his side's overall performance.

The Scot has made no secret of his ambition to win this competition - which would also provide a route back into Europe next term - and on the evidence of this season it would be difficult to back against them becoming the first English side to lift the trophy.

Player of the match Michail Antonio
Ratings 9 Antonio 7.98; 22 Benrahma 7.64; 41 Rice 7.45; 27 Aguerd 7.34; 13 Areola 7.30; 8 Fornals 7.23; 28 Soucek 7.22; 20 Bowen 7.20; 10 Lanzini 7.20; 12 Downes 7.17; 14 Cornet 7.16; 24 Kehrer 6.85; 7 Scamacca 6.84; 3 Cresswell 6.77; 11 Lucas Paqueta 6.37; 4 Zouma 5.88

Daily Mail: MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS
Larnaca: Piric, Casas, Milcevic, Tomovic, Englezou, Mamas (Altman, 59), dos Santos, Rosales, Sanjurjo, Jakolis (Tirckovski, 77), Lopes (Nikolic, 58)
Subs: Gonzalez, Faraj, Chrisoforou, Naoum, Andreou, Toumpas, Styliandis
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Areola 6; Kehrer 6, Aguerd 6, Zouma 6, Cresswell 6; Rice 7 (Soucek 60min, 6), Downes 7; Fornals 6 (Cornet 83), Lanzini 6 (Paqueta 77), Benrahma 7.5 (Bowen 60, 6.5); Antonio 8 (Scamacca 60, 6).
Subs (not used): Johnson, Ings, Ogbonna, Emerson, Hegyi, Anang
Booked: Kehrer, Downes.
Goal: Antonio 36, 45+1.
Manager: David Moyes 7.
Referee: Espen Eskas
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