A jubilant roar erupted from West Ham United supporters more accustomed to agony than ecstasy after witnessing this historic victory. Mark Noble, the boyhood fan who became captain, had tears in his eyes. Declan Rice mimicked the famous Nobby Stiles jig from the 1966 World Cup final and was embraced by David Moyes, his manager who had gone on a lap around the pitch.
It was a poignant goal that inflicted an impressive defeat on Seville, six-times winners of the Europa League, and put West Ham in the quarter-final draw at lunchtime today. After Tomas Soucek’s header levelled the round-of-16 tie on aggregate, Andriy Yarmolenko pounced after Yassine Bounou had again parried a shot with eight minutes left of extra time. Moyes had been worried about how Yarmolenko would react to the emotional roller-coaster of scoring in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa on his return to the team from compassionate leave because of the war in Ukraine, where some of his family remain. Moyes did not need to worry. Yarmolenko came on with three minutes left of normal time and was physical and energetic.
Rice said: “Yarmolenko was a little bit emotional away from the lads afterwards. For what he’s been through to perform like this is a credit to him. He deserves this. He stepped up.”
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West Ham have enjoyed momentous occasions at home this season, beating Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, but without doubt this was their biggest and most significant scalp since moving into the London Stadium in 2016.
West Ham went at Seville with fearless aggression and maturity, inspired by nearly all of the 60,000 fans that made up their biggest crowd at their new home, reaching the last eight of a European competition for the first time in 41 years when their fans clapped off a wonderful Dynamo Tbilisi side in the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Seville also arrived with pedigree, are second in La Liga and have plenty of experience and nous. It was their 43rd knockout game in the Europa League since 2009-10, more than any other side. They made five changes in extra time, hoping to inject fresh energy, but could not match West Ham’s determination and fight. “It felt fantastic but we don’t get a cup for that,” Moyes said. “We have to refocus and have another go.”
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When Antonio went off injured on Sunday, Moyes never thought he would make it. He said he would not risk the forward unless he was fully fit from a thigh injury and he must have felt the decision to start him was justified as he ran freely and created the opening goal, crossing for Soucek, seven minutes before the interval.
Moyes had spoken of the need for patience and his players began with plenty of composure, knocking the ball around in front of the penalty area and forcing a corner. Aaron Cresswell, who had recovered from a knee injury, swung the ball at the near post and Bounou unconvincingly flapped. It was a reminder of Moyes’ warnings and another was to come when Jesús Corona twisted and turned just outside the penalty area and felt the slightest touch from Rice’s hand; he went down clutching his back in pain. He won a free kick, which Joan Jordán struck straight at Soucek.
And then came a pivotal moment. Alphonse Areola produced an outstanding save to prevent Seville going 2-0 up in the tie. Ludwig Augustinsson advanced to the byline and pulled the ball back for Youssef En-Nesyri to thump a first-time effort from 12 yards and Areola, who was moving to his left, thrust out his right hand to claw the ball to safety.
The crowd were lifted and Saïd Benrahma slid through for Antonio, who cleverly waited for the ball to run across his body and poked towards goal. Nemanja Gudelj half-blocked the shot that was saved by Bounou before Seville cleared with Soucek trying to force in the loose ball. Pablo Fornals played a diagonal ball to Antonio, who exchanged passes with Benrahma on the edge of the penalty area. When Antonio could not find a way through, he turned away and chipped a cross with his weaker left-foot to the far post where Soucek outjumped Augustinsson and headed in. Moyes leapt on the touchline and was nearly jumping within 30 seconds of the restart when Soucek lashed a drive that Bounou parried.
En-Nesyri sliced a decent chance wide of the near post and then squared for Corona, who wasted a free sight of goal by blasting over, before Yarmolenko struck.
West Ham United (4-2-3-1): A Areola 7 — B Johnson 7, K Zouma 7, C Dawson 7, A Cresswell 7 — D Rice 8, T Soucek 8 — P Fornals 8 (I Diop 119min), M Lanzini 8 (M Noble 115), S Benrahma 7, (A Yarmolenko 87) — M Antonio 7 (R Fredericks 120). Booked Lanzini, Cresswell.
Seville (4-3-3): Y Bounou 6 — J Navas 6 (G Montiel 106), J Koundé 7, N Gudelj 7 (J A Carmona 111), L Augustinsson 6 — J Jordán 7, I Rakitic 5 (O Torres 56), T Delaney 6 — J M Corona 6 (Munir 96), Y En-Nesyri 7 (R Mir 91), A Martial 6 (L Cruz 102). Booked Montiel.
Referee C Turpin (France).
