Silkeborg vs West Ham United. UEFA Europa Conference League Group B.
JYSK ParkAttendance6,702.
Match report as West Ham come from behind to beat Danish side Silkeborg in the Europa Conference League; Manuel Lanzini, Gianluca Scamacca and Craig Dawson score first-half goals as Hammers make it two wins out of two in Group B; Kasper Kusk and Soren Tengstendt on target for hosts
Friday 16 September 2022 06:03, UK
A nervy West Ham made it two wins out of two in the Europa Conference League as Gianluca Scamacca's stunner helped them come from behind to beat Silkeborg 3-2 in Denmark.
After trailing Romanian side FCSB in their opening game last Thursday, West Ham had to dig deep again but Scamacca's thumping effort, along with Manuel Lanzini's penalty and Craig Dawson's header, ensured they avoided a potential upset on an artificial pitch at JYSK Park.
Silkeborg had taken a fifth-minute lead through Kasper Kusk's brilliant first-time strike but the Hammers hit back eight minutes later when Lanzini converted his spot-kick after Maxwel Cornet had been pushed over in the box.
Scamacca, who scored two goals in qualifying against Silkeborg's domestic opponents Viborg, then empathically put the Hammers ahead in the 25th minute before a Nicklas Helenius goal was ruled out for a dubious foul on West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Thirteen minutes later, Aaron Cresswell and Dawson - both back in the starting line-up following injuries - combined from a corner to score what proved to be the match-winning goal.
With West Ham cruising, David Moyes introduced Jarrod Bowen in the second half, but a mistake from the England international saw Silkeborg surge forward before Soren Tengstedt smashed the ball past Areola to give the hosts a lifeline in the 75th minute.
With the Hammers holding on, Areola then produced a fine save moments later to deny substitute Tonni Adamsen a memorable equaliser and ensure Silkeborg's wait for their first point in the group stage of a European competition continues.
The result means West Ham top Group B after matchday two. Silkeborg are bottom after Anderlecht and FCSB drew 0-0 in Romania.
West Ham manager David Moyes told BT Sport: "There were bits and pieces I liked and bits and pieces I didn't.
"Their style is very good. We were aware of that. We tried our best to stop it and we did for long periods. There were other parts where they played really well.
"At 3-1 it should have been comfortable. We had chances to make it four or five. They were always going to make it nervy when they scored.
"We started making poor decisions. We had chances to slip each other in for goals which I'm annoyed about. It's important to try to make goals."
Sky Sports' Dan Sansom:
Coming from behind to win any football match shows character and determination, but it is not something West Ham boss David Moyes will want to get used to.
His side were in cruise control for large periods in Denmark, but several lapses in concentration and questionable defending made it a tougher job than it needed to be.
An artificial surface at JYSK Park may have been a contributing factor, but the Hammers will need to do much better defensively if they want to enjoy a similar campaign to last season.
Having said that, another comeback victory in the Europa Conference League after last week's win over FCSB shows they can dig in to produce results when not at their best.
"We did the job and got it done. We've come away from home and won. Wining in Europe comfortably isn't easy," Moyes told BT Sport.
"The performance wasn't great, but we got the three points in the end," goalscorer Craig Dawson added.
Any win is certainly worth celebrating. It's two out of two in Europe. Four in a row including qualifying. But with just four points after six games in the Premier League, Moyes will know better than anyone that they will need to improve to push on domestically - starting at his former club Everton on Sunday.
Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen have been included in Gareth Southgate's latest England squad for the Nations League games against Italy and Germany later this month, but only the West Ham captain started in Denmark.
Rice looked his calm and assured self at the base of the Hammers midfield, but second-half substitute Bowen will want to forget his performance quickly after losing the ball in the build-up to Silkeborg's second goal.
With just two months to go until the World Cup, will the West Ham duo be on the plane to Qatar?
The deadline for Southgate to name his squad is October 19. The World Cup begins on November 20, with England's first game against Iran on November 21.
West Ham's next game sees them travel to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 2.15pm).
After the international break, the Hammers host Wolves - live on Sky Sports - and Fulham either side of their next Europa Conference League clash away at Anderlecht on October 6 (kick-off 5.45pm).
October 6: Anderlecht (A) - kick-off 5.45pm
October 13: Anderlecht (H) - kick-off 8pm
October 27: Silkeborg (H) - kick-off 8pm
November 3: FCSB (A) - kick-off 8pm
