I Cried, Then I Cried Some More: West Ham Win First Major Trophy for 43 Years – West Ham Till I Die
West Ham United won the UEFA Europa Conference League with a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the 90th minute thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s winning goal in the 90th minute.
After a goalless first half in the final in Prague, West Ham went ahead from a penalty awarded following VAR review for a handball by Cristiano Biraghi on the hour.
Said Benrahma, who had already all five of his spot-kicks this season, calmly converted from 12 yards to put the Hammers ahead in their first major European final since 1976.
But the lead did not last long as Fiorentina equalised on 67 minutes, when Giacomo Bonaventura fired a low volley into the bottom corner.
With the game heading into extra time, Lucas Paqueta found Bowen, who finished calmly into the far corner.
Bowen became the first Englishman to score the game-winning goal in a major European final since Alan Smith for Arsenal against Parma in the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup final.
Jarrod Bowen scored a stunning late winner to claim the title, and a parade to commemorate the historic victory will take place in England’s capital on Thursday, June 8.The Hammers’ playing group and coaching staff will parade the Club’s first major trophy since 1980 on a specially-commissioned open top bus from Upton Park to a reception at Stratford Town Hall.
The Hammers won their first major European trophy since 1965 with a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in Prague.
Said Benrahma’s penalty shortly after the hour mark sealed victory put the Hammers ahead, only for Giacomo Bonaventura to cancel that effort out minutes later. Jarrod Bowen’s goal in the 90th minute however sealed the win, a first major honour for 43 years and a place in next season’s Europa League.
Bowen: I thought I was going to cry!
Jarrod Bowen was nearly moved to tears after scoring West Ham United’s 90th minute winner to secure the 2022/23 UEFA Europa Conference League trophy!
It was a moment the forward, and indeed everyone associated with West Ham, will never forget as Bowen latched onto Lucas Paqueta’s through-ball in the last minute of Wednesday’s final to fire in the Irons’ second and secure a first European trophy for the Club since 1965.
The 26-year-old had only imagined such a scenario in his wildest dreams…until now.
“I obviously dreamed of scoring but to score the winner in the last minute…you always say you want to score a last-minute winner!” he said.
“To do it in front of these fans, I thought I was going to cry. I’m just so, so happy. I can’t put it into words.
“We had a dream, and we didn’t have the best season, but to do what we’ve done tonight for these fans…we see all the fans and, to give them this moment, I’m over the moon.”
The celebrations as Bowen’s finish found the net were immense, bettered only by the roar and the outpouring of emotion as the final whistle blew around the Eden Aréna eight minutes later.
Said Benrahma had given the Irons the lead from the penalty spot on 62 minutes, only for Giacomo Bonaventura to level the match on 67 minutes, ensuring a tense feeling for both sets of fans as the minutes dripped away.
“I’ve never had a feeling like this in my entire life,” he continued. “I said leading up to this that this was the biggest game in my entire career and the emotion.
“I thought it was going to go to extra time. But there was time for one more chance and I’m just so happy. We won it for everyone. It means to much
“In my position, you make that run ten times and you might get it once but the one time you get it you’ve got to put it away.
“I was confident and then I’ve seen it go in and then I just didn’t know what to do.”
There is plenty of time to consider the history-making implications, not to mention European football secured again for next season. For now, Bowen and his teammates have a very special moment to savour.
He added: “I’m now thinking about the party tonight. I want to celebrate with my teammates, the fans, the staff. My dad and my brother and my two mates are in the front row too. It’s special.”
