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West Ham logo
Europa League | Round of 16 | 2nd Leg
Mar 14, 2024 at 5.45pm UK
London Stadium
Freiburg logo

West Ham
5 - 0
Freiburg

Paqueta (9'), Bowen (32'), Cresswell (52'), Kudus (77', 85')
Cresswell (67'), Alvarez (73')
FT(HT: 2-0)

West Ham United through to Europa League quarter-finals after Freiburg thrashing

West Ham through to Europa League quarter-finals after Freiburg thrashing
© Reuters
West Ham United advance into the quarter-finals of the Europa League after a five-goal demolition of Bundesliga side Freiburg at the London Stadium.

West Ham United have advanced into the quarter-finals of the Europa League after thrashing Freiburg 5-0 in their round-of-16 second-leg clash at the London Stadium.

The German side's one-goal advantage from a controversial encounter last week was wiped out in the opening 10 minutes as Lucas Paqueta found the back of the net.

West Ham were soon in front on aggregate following a brilliant effort from England international Jarrod Bowen, with the momentum firmly swung in the hosts' favour.

David Moyes's men added some sparkle to an exceptional display in East London during the second half, when an Aaron Cresswell strike and Mohammed Kudus's brace sealed a five-goal success.

Having won the Europa Conference League last season, West Ham are still on course for back-to-back continental triumphs and will discover their quarter-final opponents on Friday.

After being largely unconvincingly during their 2-2 draw with Premier League strugglers Burnley on Sunday, West Ham made four changes to the side that started against Vincent Kompany's Clarets.

Freiburg's Manuel Gulde in action with West Ham United's Kurt Zouma on March 14, 2024© Reuters

James Ward-Prowse was taken out of the firing line following criticism from sections of the fanbase, while Michail Antonio was drafted in to lead the line.

As for the visitors, Freiburg made just the single alteration from the XI which defeated VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga on the weekend, with midfielder Lucas Holer replacing last week's matchwinner Michael Gregoritsch.

West Ham took little time to right the wrongs of the first leg at Europa-Park Stadion and were level in the contest after just eight minutes at the London Stadium, where Brazilian Paqueta was the first name onto the scoresheet.

Towering Czech Tomas Soucek managed to get a glancing touch at the near post from a Cresswell corner-kick delivery, and the ball found its way to the onrushing Paqueta at the back stick, with the 26-year-old sliding in to bundle his effort past Noah Atubolu in visitors' net.

With the early leveller for the Hammers setting the tone for the contest, it was not long before the Premier League side had taken the lead in the tie overall, with Bowen finding the net in the Europa League for the first time this season.

Antonio's decision to let the ball ghost past him allowed Bowen a run at Christian Streich's backline just outside the box, and the 27-year-old bullied Freiburg captain Christian Gunter to the ground before unleashing a low-driven strike into the bottom-right corner, leaving youngster Atubolu helpless in net.

West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen celebrates scoring their second goal on March 14, 2024© Reuters

Looking to change their fortunes in the second period, the Germans introduced Austria international Gregoritsch off the bench in place of Vincenzo Grifo, however the presence of an extra striker on the field for Freiburg failed to pay dividends as the Hammers ran away with the contest.

Finding himself in acres of space just outside of the box on the left, West Ham veteran Cresswell had the luxury of taking a preparatory touch before firing his effort into the far corner to make it 3-0 on the night, with the 34-year-old scoring his first-ever European goal.

If the fixture had not already been entertaining enough for the jubilant London Stadium crowd, former Ajax attacker Kudus was the next West Ham player to get in on the goals, with the Ghana international running from inside his own half and eventually slotting the ball past Atubolu.

Kudus completed a marvellous night in the capital for Moyes's side with his second of the match in the final five minutes, sending a driven strike past the attentions of the Freiburg goalkeeper after being set up by Bowen on the edge of the box.

Following a five-star display in East London, West Ham will return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as they welcome Unai Emery's Aston Villa to the London Stadium.

Freiburg will have to wait another season at least for their first-ever appearance in the quarter-finals of a major European competition - Streich's men welcome unbeaten league leaders Bayer Leverkusen to Europa-Park Stadion in the Bundesliga on the weekend.

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QWest Ham650115
QFreiburg640212
3Olympiacos62137
4Backa Topola60151

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QBrighton641113
QMarseille632111
3Ajax61235
4AEK Athens61144

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QRangers632111
QSparta Prague631210
3Betis63039
4Aris Limassol61144

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtalanta642014
QSporting Lisbon632111
3Sturm Graz61144
4Rakow61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QLiverpool640212
QToulouse632111
3Union SG62228
4LASK61053

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QVillarreal641113
QRennes640212
3M. Haifa61235
4Panathinaikos61144

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QSlavia Prague650115
QRoma641113
3Servette61235
4Sheriff Tiraspol60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QB. Leverkusen660018
QQarabag631210
3Molde62137
4Hacken60060


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