Hammers seize Group A control with late Soucek goal
Tomas Soucek emerged as the savior for West Ham United by netting a decisive goal towards the end of their UEFA Europa League encounter against FK TSC Backa Topola. The Hammers clinched a 1-0 triumph at the TSC Arena, positioning themselves favorably to claim the top spot in Group A if they manage to avoid a loss against Freiburg in their upcoming match.
During the initial half, West Ham dominated possession but struggled to generate any notable opportunities in the attacking third. TSC had the first shot on goal, but Lukasz Fabianski made a comfortable save to deny Uros Milovanovic’s attempt. After thirty minutes, the team playing at home had a great chance when Aleksandar Cirkovic seized a weak pass from Aaron Cresswell, but his shot directly hit Fabianski.
To enhance West Ham’s offensive display, David Moyes made substitutions in the second half, introducing Danny Ings and Maxwel Cornet. Ultimately, it was Cornet who had a significant impact, as he produced an outstanding pass to the far post, where Soucek skillfully scored the winning goal in the 89th minute. Soucek scored his third goal in a row that led West Ham to win the match.
Even though neither team played exceptionally well, West Ham was able to clinch the victory, extending their impressive streak to 18 wins in their last 20 European matches. This outcome ensures that West Ham will participate in the UEFA Europa League knockout play-off round. However, Moyes will be eager for his team to complete the task in their final group match against Freiburg.
If West Ham can manage to secure at least a draw against Freiburg, they will finish first in the group and directly qualify for the knockout stages. However, in the event of their loss and Freiburg securing the first position, West Ham will be required to confront a team descending from the UEFA Champions League in a two-part contest. Given the demanding schedule and the chaotic time of the year, Moyes will be highly motivated for his team to secure the leading position in Group A by December 14th.
Tomas Soucek’s pivotal goal led to him being awarded the Player of the Match. The Czech national has been in outstanding form, managing to score decisive goals in each of his previous three matches. In addition to his goal-scoring prowess, Soucek delivered a commendable performance, successfully completing 46 passes, providing two crucial assists, executing one tackle, and making two clearances. Soucek stood out in the match, earning the top rating of 8, which emphasized his significant contribution to the game. Although the game as a whole lacked quality, Soucek’s goal ultimately made the crucial difference.
Looking at the numbers, TSC has now allowed a total of 14 goals in five matches, which is the same as BK Hacken, making them the two teams with the highest number of goals conceded in the UEFA Europa League this season.
All in all, West Ham had to fight hard for their victory, and they will aim to maintain this momentum in their final group match in order to secure first place and advance in the competition.