24 August 1999
UEFA Intertoto Cup final second leg
Saint-Symphorien Stadium
FC Metz 1-3 West Ham Utd (West Ham United win 3-2 on aggregate)
West Ham United's season began unusually early this year with their first competitive fixture coming on 17 July in the Intertoto Cup against FC Jokerit.
Despite their fifth-placed finish, West Ham United were not awarded a place the full UEFA Cup and had to qualify via the early competition. Harry Redknapp's side progressed easily to the final with victories over Jokerit and Holland's Heerenveen, but faced a tough test against FC Metz in the final.
The French side came to the Boleyn Ground for the first leg and returned very happy after a 1-0 victory. Frank Lampard also spurned the chance to equalise from the spot, and West Ham had a quite a job to do if they were to qualify. The one thing a travelling West Ham side can count on, however, is terrific support, and the Boleyn Ground faithful had made the trip across the channel in great numbers and were in full force that night.
A left-footed drive from Trevor Sinclair opened the scoring after 25 minutes and wiped out the away goal. They were then in dreamland two minutes before the break when Lampard fired home and gave West Ham the lead on aggregate.
Metz fought back hard and ensured a nervy finale with a goal 20 minutes from time, but Paulo Wanchope rounded the keeper, coolly slotted the ball away and put the Hammers into the hat for the UEFA Cup first round draw.
West Ham United: Hislop, Ferdinand, Lomas, Potts, Sinclair, Lampard, Foe, Keller, Moncur, Di Canio (Cole 78), Wanchope