West Ham vs Freiburg LIVE: Europa League result and reaction after Kudus strikes twice including stunner
Follow all the latest updates from the Europa League clash at the London Stadium
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West Ham have booked their place in the quarter-finals of Europe’s second-tier competition with an emphatic 5-0 win on the night, and 5-1 on aggregate against Freiburg.
The Hammers fell to a controversial 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie. David Moyes’ side were controversially denied a late penalty to level the match.
But in the return leg they fired on all cylinders. It started from Lucas Paqueta’s ninth-minute tap in to level the tie, before Jarrod Bowen, Aaron Cresswell and Mohammed Kudus also got their names on the score sheet.
Kudus’ first was the goal of the evening, a stunning individual effort that stemmed from him winning the ball by cutting out a ball inside his own half before running forward, leaving defenders in his wake to set up the shot and fire the ball into the corner of the goal.
In the pre-match press conference, Moyes insisted the club have been enjoying their recent European runs, he said: “If you want to be on the big stage, now is the time to act. If you can’t perform, don’t go on stage. From the first game we had in Europe, we’ve been on a good ride and no one wants that to end.” And the Hammers will have a chance to extend that after their win over Freiburg.
Follow all the live action in the blog below, and get the latest odds and tips here.
West Ham 1-0 Freiburg (1-1)
22 mins: West Ham are firmly on top here, Coufal drives forward and plays a dangerous ball into the box, but there’s just not anyone quite in the right place to get on the end of it.
West Ham 1-0 Freiburg (1-1)
20 mins: Concern for Paqueta as he goes down and receives treatment, but he is back on his feet and looks to be okay to continue.
West Ham 1-0 Freiburg (1-1)
19 mins: Chance! Antonio almost crafted another! He won the ball back in the midfield line, drove down the wing to create the chance, pulled it back for Kudus, but it just had too much power on it and he couldn’t direct it into the back of the net.
West Ham 1-0 Freiburg (1-1)
18 mins: Freiburg are looking to play in their central striker in over the top, but Zouma was able to get there and make an easy tackle
West Ham 1-0 Freiburg (1-1)
16 mins: After the blistering start and the three corners in succession, the game has just slowed down a bit now scores are level across the two-legged tie
West Ham 1-0 Freiburg (1-1)
13 mins: David Moyes said before the game to TNT Sports that his side were going to try and get after them early, and that’s exactly what they have done.
West Ham 1-0 Freiburg (1-1)
11 mins: The fans are singing Paqueta’s name as West Ham’s fans have really got behind the team, and they are right back in this match now.
GOAL! Lucas Paqueta taps in at the far post - West Ham 1-0 Freiburg (1-1)
GOAL! 9 mins: Lucas Paqueta was in the right place at the right time at the far post to just tap the ball home after Soucek at the near post just headed it across the face of goal.
The scores are level and the game is on!
West Ham 0-0 Freiburg (0-1)
8 mins: The hosts will have a third corner, a second is put behind by the defender trying to hold off Soucek.
West Ham 0-0 Freiburg (0-1)
7 mins: West Ham have another corner, it’s looped in by Cresswell and the defence could only put it behind for another one.
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