Andriy Yarmolenko celebrates with the home fans after his extra-time winner put West Ham throughAndriy Yarmolenko scored an emotional extra-time winner as West Ham overturned a first-leg deficit against Sevilla to reach their first European quarter-final since 1981.
Yarmolenko has been on compassionate leave as he tried to deal with the trauma of having friends and relatives back home in war-torn Ukraine.
But after making a goalscoring return to the pitch against Aston Villa on Sunday, Yarmolenko swept the Hammers past Sevilla as he converted a rebound after Pablo Fornals’ low shot had been parried into his path by visiting keeper Bono.
The 32-year-old forward, on as a substitute for Said Benrahma, looked to the skies as he marked his special moment and the London Stadium erupted in jubilation.
At the final whistle, he looked almost bewildered in the moment before spotting a fan with a Ukraine flag and handing him his shirt.
‘We can write history’ – West Ham into first Euro quarter-final since 1981Trailing by a single goal from last week’s opener in Spain, Tomas Soucek had pulled West Ham level in the first-half when he guided Michail Antonio’s cross into the far corner with a precise header.
A Sevilla side that has won this tournament four times out of the last eight seasons were a major disappointment – and came no closer than Youssef En-Nesyri’s early effort which was brilliantly saved by Alphonse Areola.
Thursday’s European action as it happened, plus reaction and analysisMoyes’ marvelsWest Ham manager David Moyes had billed this as the tie of the round. The Scot must now be immensely proud at the way his side have navigated their way into a draw that contains, among others, Barcelona and Rangers.
The last time Moyes managed a team in the last 16 of a European competition, he secured probably his best night as Manchester United manager, when his side came back from a 2-0 first leg deficit to knock Olympiakos out of the Champions League.
As on that night, Moyes’ side had levelled the tie by the interval.
Tomas Soucek’s first-half header was his first European goal for West HamWest Ham controlled the tempo of the game despite having a minority of possession.
Fornals and Declan Rice were outstanding in midfield, young defender Ben Johnson superb in a determined defensive display and Antonio – a doubt before the game – ran so hard up front that Sevilla could never rest.
In contrast, Anthony Martial was a disappointment on his return to England and, by the end, Sevilla Julen Lopetegui seemed to have run out of ideas as his side tried to claw their way to penalties.
Sevilla had not lost a European tie after taking a first-leg lead since 1981. Yarmolenko changed that history in a moment for Ukraine to be proud of, in a dark time at home.
A statement night for London StadiumWest Ham have not had a seamless move from their beloved Boleyn Ground to the London Stadium.
However, this game exploded the myth that there is a lack of atmosphere at the stadium solely because of the running track which, in any case, is reduced in its impact since the stands behind each goal were squared off at the start of the season.
There was no lack of atmosphere on this occasion, a game, West Ham said, was played in front of the highest number of club supporters ever to see a match.
The build-up was heightened by a pre-match light show. The bubbles floated into the night sky and when Soucek’s header found the far corner in the 39th minute, the place erupted.
Celebration was replaced by tension the longer the game went on.
But when Yarmolenko struck the decisive final blow in the 112th minute, the home fans turned up the volume once more.
London Stadium has waited six years for a statement night to go alongside the memories that were left behind in the three-and-a-half mile move.
Now they have one. And on this evidence, the journey might not be over yet.
Line-upsWest HamFormation 4-3-3
13Areola
31Johnson15Dawson4Zouma3Cresswell
28Soucek41Rice10Lanzini
8Fornals9Antonio22Benrahma
13Areola31Johnson15Dawson4Zouma3CresswellBooked at 116mins28Soucek41Rice10LanziniBooked at 33minsSubstituted forNobleat 115’minutes8FornalsSubstituted forDiopat 119’minutes9AntonioSubstituted forFredericksat 120+1’minutes22BenrahmaSubstituted forYarmolenkoat 87’minutesSubstitutes1Fabianski7Yarmolenko11Vlasic16Noble23Diop24Fredericks26Masuaku33Král35Randolph42Alese51Chesters64PerkinsSevillaFormation 4-3-3
13Bono
16Navas23Koundé6Gudelj3Augustinsson
8Jordán18Delaney10Rakitic
9JM Corona15En-Nesyri22Martial
13Bono16NavasSubstituted forMontielat 105’minutesBooked at 120mins23Koundé6GudeljSubstituted forCarmonaat 111’minutes3Augustinsson8Jordán18Delaney10RakiticSubstituted forTorresat 56’minutes9JM CoronaSubstituted forEl-Haddadiat 96’minutes15En-NesyriSubstituted forMirat 90’minutes22MartialSubstituted forCruz Hernándezat 102’minutesSubstitutes1Dmitrovic2Montiel11El-Haddadi12Mir21Torres27Cruz Hernández30Carmona36Romero38Zarzana39Fattore41Flores45Salas ValienteReferee:Clément Turpin
Attendance:59,981
Live TextMatch ends, West Ham United 2, Sevilla 0.
Second Half Extra Time ends, West Ham United 2, Sevilla 0.
Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla).
Andriy Yarmolenko (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Ludwig Augustinsson (Sevilla) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Andriy Yarmolenko (West Ham United).
Substitution, West Ham United. Ryan Fredericks replaces Michail Antonio.
Foul by Ludwig Augustinsson (Sevilla).
Andriy Yarmolenko (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, West Ham United. Issa Diop replaces Pablo Fornals.
Corner, Sevilla. Conceded by Tomas Soucek.
Offside, West Ham United. Mark Noble tries a through ball, but Pablo Fornals is caught offside.
Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, West Ham United. Mark Noble replaces Manuel Lanzini.
Attempt missed. Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Rafa Mir.
Goal! West Ham United 2, Sevilla 0. Andriy Yarmolenko (West Ham United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Pablo Fornals (West Ham United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Manuel Lanzini.
Substitution, Sevilla. José Ángel Carmona replaces Nemanja Gudelj because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Óliver Torres (Sevilla) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ludwig Augustinsson.
From Notts County to North Korea: The tale of a trillion-dollar conman who sold a dream to the oldest club in the Football League The Sound of Peaky Blinders: Cillian Murphy shares tracks that have been integral to the feel of the programme