Evening Standard
·13 April 2023
Evening Standard
·13 April 2023
W
est Ham drew with Gent in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final on Thursday night.
Danny Ings had put the away side into the lead with a simple tap-in but the Hammers ceded control and saw Hugo Cuypers round off a brilliant team move to draw the home side level.
The two sides will meet again in east London next week to decide a place in the final four.
Alphonse Areola 6
Beaten by the power of Cuypers’ shot and, for all Gent’s pressure, did not have many saves to make.
Ben Johnson 4
Made a couple of important blocks early on but tame defending as Cuypers waltzed past to score. Twisted inside out by Orban.
Angelo Ogbonna 4
Appeared to be left spitting blood after a crunching fall. Nutmegged in build-up to Gent leveller. Booked.
Nayef Aguerd 6
Had opener disallowed for handball. One fine headed clearance probably saved a second Gent goal.
Vladimir Coufal 6
Brilliant quick thinking with throw-in to create opener. Booked.
Declan Rice 6
A few vital bits of covering. Visibly frustrated by pernickety refereeing.
Flynn Downes 6
Extremely unlucky to be booked early on after making two decent tackles. Trod a fine line well after that, keeping usual intensity.
Manuel Lanzini 4
Handed a rare start but did nothing to suggest he deserves more of them.
Jarrod Bowen 6
Alive to set up Ings as Gent backline slept. Should have done better after being played in by Lucas Paqueta.
Danny Ings 6
Looked isolated for large parts but tapped home his first European goal at the back post having been typically alert. Only lasted an hour.
Substitutes
Michail Antonio (Ings 61’) 6
More involved than Ings but without much reward. Curled straight at ‘keeper from Paqueta pass.
Said Benrahma (Lanzini 61’) 5
Lucas Paqueta (Downes 74’) 6