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West Ham are through to their third European quarter final in as many seasons after thrashing Freiburg in Stratford.

A goal behind from the first leg in Germany, the Hammers took just nine minutes to level the tie through Lucas Paqueta - before further goals from Mohammed Kudus (2), Aaron Cresswell and recalled England forward Jarrod Bowen sent the Irons through to the last eight with some room to spare.




Although the early kick-off ensured somewhere in the region of 10,000 seats remained empty at kick-off, the Hammers put on a show for those present by hitting five in a competitive fixture for the first time since beating Hull City 5-1 in the Carabao Cup back in September 2020.

Palpable pre-match nerves were eased inside the opening ten minutes, when Cresswell's left-sided corner was nodded on at the near post by Tomas Soucek. Paqueta arrived at the far post with training ground-honed, precision timing to steer the ball over the line and level the tie on aggregate - with a full 80 minutes of regulation time still to play.

Freiburg, game plan undone before the fans had fully settled into their seats appeared unsure whether to push on or seek to remain resolute in defence; in the end they succeeded with either and offered surprisingly little resistance as United ran riot.

That all-important second goal, which put West Ham ahead on aggregate for the first time in the tie arrived shortly after the half-hour mark. Soucek was involved again as his header found its way to Bowen, the forward playing with that extra spring in the step afforded by international recognition. Cutting inside from the right, he fired a low drive back across goalkeeper Atubolu, who was left clutching at air.




With half-time duties duly performed and fresh instructions issued, again it was noticeable that some of those pre-match nerves still remained. This time, it took West Ham just seven minutes to virtually extinguish any lingering worries with a goal from the most unlikely of sources.

Back in the starting XI as replacement for the injured Emerson, and making consecutive appearances for the first time this season, step forward Aaron Cresswell. - and perhaps a case of "anything you can do..." as he emulated his team mate's brilliant February strike against Brentford with a fine strike from some 15 yards.

The fourth, Kudus' first of his brace and the goal of the night - possibly of the season too - came with 77 minutes on the clock. Collecting a stray pass some ten yards outside West Ham's 18-yard box, he drove purposefully into Freiburg's half. Having left three SCF players in his wake the mazy run ended with a side-footed shot, perfectly placed just out of reach of Atubolu's outstretched left boot.

The goal drew one of those special roars of appreciation from the appreciative audience; think Di Canio vs Wimbledon, or Payet against Middlesbrough. One of those to say "I was there!" to, whenever it crops up on TV in the years to come, as it is destined to.




Eight minutes later Kudus was celebating again, although this time without the aid of a steward's chair (which to the Ghanaian's credit, he returned post-use following its impromtu deployment after West Ham's fourth goal). Soucek and Bowen combined on the fringe of Freiburg's area before gifting the ball to Kudus, who fired a ferocious left-footed effort into the same corner as his first goal to put the seal on a stunning win.

The only disappointing note on another wonderful European night was a(nother) booking for the otherwise-impressive Edson Alvarez, who will now miss the first leg of the quarter final having been yellow-carded in both ties against the Germans.

The win ensures David Moyes takes his team - minus Alvarez, initially - to the last eight in Europe once again. The Hammers will be hoping for a kind draw, with the likes of Liverpool, Roma, Miland and Benfice already confimred to be joining them.




West Ham Utd: Fabiański, Coufal, Zouma, Mavropanos, Cresswell, Álvarez (Phillips 86), Souček, Paquetá (Ward-Prowse 62), Kudus (Ings 86), Bowen (Earthy 86), Antonio (Johnson 79)

Subs not used: Areola, Knightbridge, Casey, Ogbonna, Aguerd, Orford, Mubama

Goals: Paquetá (9), Bowen (32), Cresswell (52), Kudus (77, 85)

Booked: Cresswell, Álvarez

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

Possession: WHUFC 39%-61% SCF

Shots/on target: WHUFC 11/7-10/3 SCF

xG: WHUFC 2.27-0.44 SCF

Referee: Marco Guida (Italy)

Tickets sold: 51,014

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