Europa LeagueWest Ham United 5-0 SC Freiburg
Thursday, 14th March 2024
by Chris Wilkerson
A magnificent West Ham brushed their German visitors aside and booked their ticket to the quarter-finals of the Europa League with a 5-0 hammering of Freiburg this Thursday evening.
With a goal deficit to recover, Moyes went bold, starting Antonio instead of Ward-Prowse, pushing Bowen back to the right wing and Kudus the left. Paqueta played just ahead of Soucek and Alvarez, often pressing high with Antonio.That was the decision from the manager that will stand out as his side not only attacked with a more devastating sharpness than the majority of matches in Moyes's tenure, they also defended excellently from the front and refused to let their visitors settle.
The Germans were unchanged from the first leg, the goalscorer Gregoritsch again having to wait to make an impact from the bench.
Whereas last week's tie was characterised by deep West Ham defending and Freiburg's control of the ball, this second leg was instantly a stark contrast. With Paqueta pushing high with Antonio, West Ham were eager to get at their visitors, pressing them high when out of possession and bombing forward in the early stages. However timid they had appeared in Germany, tonight's team had been sent out to dominate this game.
They were at it right from the off, Antonio setting the tone with an energetic and determined performance. For the first 45 minutes at least, the striker was far and away the best player on the pitch, looking like the man who had terrorised defences across England and Europe a couple of years ago.
But the intent was there from all the players. Pressure started early, the defence and midfield excellent in regaining possession and starting another attack quickly, Freiburg much less comfortable building from the back with West Ham giving them very little rest.
An early long throw by Coufal saw Bowen nearly in behind, and then the winger shot wildly after a short corner. But it was when West Ham went back to firing those set-pieces into the box that they got the reward their fast start had warranted.
Two beautifully hit corners from Cresswell to the near post were blocked behind, but the third outswinger found a man at the front post. Hit flat and with pace, it was flicked on by the diving head of Soucek, and skidded across goal to the far post.
Sliding in to tap home into an empty net was the Brazilian Paquet??, escaping his man with far too much ease to put The Hammers 1-0 ahead after just 9 minutes, his second against Freiburg this season.
The ground was rocking, and the section of Freiburg fans quietened, but the visitors could have made an instant reply. Eggestein had too much space to slide a ball through and into the box for Sallai, but his quick effort was poorly struck and bobbled harmlessly wide.
The West Ham pressure was constant, and they looked certain to extend their lead before half-time. Kudus came very close after great work from Antonio. The striker won a long ball in the air, followed his own flick down the ring wing and beat his man to get to the byline.
Right on the line, inside the box, he cut it back to Kudus on the edge of the six-yard box, but it came at the Ghanaian too quickly and he could only push it just wide.
Slight openings for the away side were being quickly shut down, none better than Kudus sprinting back into his box to dispossess Doan when the winger had space to shoot. This was a whole-team performance.
Just after the half-hour mark, West Ham got their second goal, giving them the lead in the tie. A long ball upfield was headed on by Soucek by the right touch line. It looked to be bouncing to Antonio, but the striker showed fantastic awareness to let it go between his legs, a perfect dummy as Bowen moved from the wing and took it as it ran into his path.
His defender tried to bully him off it, but sent himself crashing down as Bowen brushed him off and then set himself in space, just outside the box. Lining it up, Bowen celebrated his place in the England squad announced the same day by smashing it into the bottom corner, low to the goalkeeper's left and into the back of the net. Two thirds of the way through the first half, West Ham had blown their opponents away to lead 2-0.
The visitors had two moments to offer a reminder of their threat before the half ended, but neither amounted to much more than an easy save for Fabianski as both Eggestein and Grifo wasted opportunities in promising positions. But half-time came with a West Ham clean sheet still intact and the home side looking certain to nail down their place in the next round.
Freiburg threw Gregoritsch on at half time, the goalscorer from last week also slotting in five goals this season in the Europa League, with the Germans chasing the game and in desperate need of a goal.
Any fears were all but washed away seven minutes into the half when an unlikely hero stepped up to send in a third. After a Kudus cross from the right went long, The Hammers recycled the ball and it was out to Coufal. Rather than firing in a cross, he drove a firm pass to Bowen down the right side of the box. He squared, but the ball was flicked away from the feet of Soucek, rolling out to the edge of the area.
The crowd screamed shoot as Cresswell stepped up, but the left back took his customary touch to settle. There will have been some exasperated to see it, but they were instantly quietened as the full back hit a low drive across goal and into the far corner, nestling low to the goalkeeper's left as he was comprehensively beaten. It was typical Cresswell, a firm hit with his instep, and his first goal for just under two years. He doesn't score many from open play.
Freiburg looked lost at sea, and West Ham kept coming, Alvarez heading wide from a Coufal cross as The Hammers hammered at the door for more.
The visitors made a double change, and Moyes replaced a furious Paquet?? with Ward-Prowse. It was hard to tell if the Brazilian was frustrated to be substituted, or frustrated with the knock he had picked up that left him limping at half-time.
It was a good change from the manager, protecting his mercurial maverick from further injury, as well as a yellow card that could see him suspended. He'll only regret he didn't withdraw Alvarez with him, the midfielder soon booked for a needless and foolish lunging challenge that will see him miss the first leg of the next tie.
It wasn't quite party mode in the London Stadium, not until Mohammed Kudus scored one of the goals of the season. Winning the ball back just inside his own half, Kudus set off at goal. The winger can shift his body and direction on the run at high speed, in a way unlike any other West Ham player, with a skill and balance that throws defenders off.
He skipped past the first challenge and pushed into the Freiburg half, where a quick shift of weight saw him drive past another.
Twisting and turning, it was like watching Ryan Giggs just before the shirt came off and the chest hair was out against Arsenal back in 1999. He didn't do a lot, he just did it quickly, subtle shifts turning defenders inside out. He beat another with the same ease, and burst into the box.
There was nothing silly from here, the Ghanaian just slotting the ball home low into the corner with his right foot having run some 60 or more yards with the ball to put an end to the contest with just over 10 minutes remaining.
The result was in the bag, so Moyes withdrew Antonio, who had tired notably around the hour, bringing on Ben Johnson down the left. Ings, Phillips and a debuting George Earthy waited on the touchline to come on, but not before Kudus could notch again.
A Soucek lay off to Bowen was quickly set to Kudus on the edge of the box. He took a touch and smashed it low, driving it into the bottom corner once more and giving West Ham a 5-0 lead.
The substitutes got their run, but it was all over. Coufal did nearly score what would have been his first goal for the club, but his touch at goal from close range cannoned off the goalkeeper's shoulder and away.
It would have been a great way to end a quite fantastic night at the London Stadium, but we can all settle for 5-0.
Manager's Rating
David Moyes 10/10:
Bold decisions, bold tactics, and boldly going forth to smash a team 5-0. It was managed perfectly, the team just dominant from start to finish. Antonio was perfect in his role, it helped the team defend high, and the midfield and defence were all part of it as they worked hard to pressure high and regain possession. Last week was a bit timid, but this week was controlled aggression and a performance nobody can criticise. Well, not if they have sense.
* Want to submit your match reports to KUMB.com? More details here ...
Click to view all West Ham United vs SC Freiburg match reports Click to view all match reports by Chris Wilkerson Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.Player Ratings
Lukasz FabianskiBarely a thing to do, but did it all well.
Vladimir Coufal
Never in bother in defence, but a good asset in attack. Looks more comfortable with Bowen ahead of him, and his direct passing was key to getting attacks moving quickly.
Aaron Cresswell
He's not a consistent player and his lack of pace now means he can't be a starting option often, but he was very good today. Sharp passing, excellent delivery from corners and a very well taken goal.
Kurt Zouma
Easy game for Kurt. Managed it well, barely tested.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Whilst he can be rash, his physicality definitely makes attackers uncomfortable, and he can bully players.
Edson Alvarez
Comfortable in midfield and taking the ball from defence, as well as dropping in to help the shape widen, but a stupid challenge earned a yellow and a suspension.
Tomas Soucek
Dominant in midfield, great header on for the first goal, and he was brilliant in the air throughout. Has improved his form since Phillips arrived to put pressure on his place, and allow him the odd rest.
Lucas Paqueta
Excellent anticipation for the goal and a controlled performance in the middle.
Mohamed Kudus
He was excellent in his defensive work before the goals, and then just turned it on. It was like watching a player suddenly realise he was against a team of kids as he blazed past a line of Freiburg defenders.
Jarrod Bowen
An absolute driving force down the right, relentless in his hard work and how he tested the defence. Wonderfully taken goal, involved in two others.
Michail Antonio
He tired, and that's all that cost him a 10/10. It was a masterclass performance as a Moyes lone striker. Excellent work chasing and harrying, physical hold up, awareness of runners around him. Prime Antonio was back for a half. Man of the match.
Substitutes
James Ward-Prowse(Replaced Paqueta, 62) Did his job, keeping the workrate up and getting up and down. The change ensured we stayed on it, pushing for more, which really ended the tie.
Ben Johnson
(Replaced Antonio, 78) Looked to be enjoying it, and made some good forward runs with the ball.
Kalvin Phillips
(Replaced Alvarez, 86) Introduced to see out time.
Danny Ings
(Replaced Kudus, 86) Introduced to see out time.
George Earthy
(Replaced Bowen, 86) Introduced to see out time.
Alphonse Areola
Did not play.
Angelo Ogbonna
Did not play.
Nayef Aguerd
Did not play. Other unused subs: Kaelen Casey, Lewis Orford
Divin Mubama
Did not play. Other unused subs: Kaelen Casey, Lewis Orford
Match Facts
West Ham United: Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Kurt Zouma, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta, Mohamed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio.Goals: Lucas Paqueta 9 Jarrod Bowen 32 Aaron Cresswell 52 Mohammed Kudus 77 Mohammed Kudus 85 .
Booked: Aaron Cresswell 0 Edson ALvarez 0 .
Sent off: None.
SC Freiburg: Atubolu, Sildillia (Röhl 68), Ginter, Gulde (Kübler 62), Günter, Höfler (Muslija 62), Dōan, Eggestein, Höler (Philipp 68), Grifo (Gregoritsch 46), Sallai.
Subs not used: Müller, Uphoff, Szalai, Lienhart, Keitel, Adamu, Makengo.
Goals: .
Booked: .
Sent off: None.
Referee: Marco Guida.
Attendance: 51,014.
Man of the Match: Mohammed Kudus.