Declan Rice celebrates

Road to Prague | Quarter-final

West Ham United contested 14 ties on the way to reaching the UEFA Europa Conference League final, winning 13 and drawing one.

The Hammers became the first English club to win ten straight UEFA club competition matches, before drawing 1-1 at Belgian side KAA Gent in the first leg of their quarter-final.

A year after a memorable run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League, David Moyes side are hoping to go all the way by winning the Conference League in just the second year of the tournament’s existence when they take on ACF Fiorentina of Italy in Prague, Czechia, on Wednesday 7 June.

Before the big game, let us take a look back at West Ham’s run to the Club's first major European final in 47 years...

 

QUARTER-FINAL

KAA Gent 1-1 West Ham United
West Ham United 4-1 KAA Gent
(West Ham United won 5-2 on aggregate)

The quarter-finals saw West Ham United face their strongest opposition yet in the shape of Belgian Cup holders KAA Gent – the same club the Irons faced in their very first match in UEFA competition back in September 1964.

De Buffalo’s came out charging and put the Irons under severe pressure, but West Ham defended doggedly and stole the lead when Vladimír Coufal and Jarrod Bowen combined to set up Danny Ings to score his first career goal in European football.

Hugo Cuypers levelled eleven minutes into the second half and his strike partner Gift Orban hit the crossbar late on as Gent finished strongly, but the tie came back to England level at 1-1.

The speedy Cuypers then put Gent ahead at London Stadium before Michail Antonio settled nerves with a headed equaliser before half-time.

Paquetá’s penalty and Declan Rice’s sensational solo goal turned the tie in West Ham’s favour before the hour-mark, then Antonio’s second of the night made it safe just after to send David Moyes’ side through to a second consecutive European semi-final.

 

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