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Gianluca Scamacca scored his first goal for West Ham in the Europa Conference League, beating Viborg as Hearts lost to Zurich in the Europa League | Football news


Gianluca Scamacca scored his first goal for West Ham as The Hammers kicked off their latest European campaign with a 3-1 win over Danish club Viborg.

Italian Scamacca striker, who joined last month from Sassuolo in a deal worth £35.5mscored a header in the first half on his full debut.

Jarrod Bowen added a second after the break and although Viborg pulled back a goal, Michail Antonio rounded things up with a third.

It gives The Hammers some breathing room ahead of the second leg of this Europa Conference League qualifying play-off in Denmark next week as they bid to reach the group stage of Europe’s third-place competition.

West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen (left) celebrates with teammate Maxwel Cornet after scoring their side's second goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off, first leg at London Stadium, London.  Date taken: Thursday, August 18, 2022.
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Jarrod Bowen (left) celebrates scoring his second West Ham goal with new teammate Maxwel Cornet

West Ham are without Declan Rice and Aaron Cresswell, as well as Moyes, with all banned for various absurd acts during their painful Europa League semi-final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in May.

It has also been a tough road for Viborg for what is perhaps the biggest night in their history after two players, Nigerian winger Ibrahim Said and Gambian striker Alassana Jatta, were denied entry into the country due to post-Brexit visa regulations.

However, burly striker Jay-Roy Grot is proving excellent for the visitors, especially for Hammers captain Angelo Ogbonna, who is making his first appearance in nine months after a serious injury.

But Moyes watched from the stands as his almost £50m summer acquisitions combined to give West Ham the lead in the 24th minute.

West Ham United's Michail Antonio (centre) celebrates scoring their side's third goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off, first leg match at London Stadium, London.  Date taken: Thursday, August 18, 2022.
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Michail Antonio came on from the bench to score his third and final goal for West Ham

Former Burnley winger Cornet worked his way, cutting back inside and lifting through a cross to Scamacca’s header from the far corner.

Viborg was threatening sporadically and when Cornet sent the ball away, Grot was already ahead of goal, Alphonse Areola making a foot save.

The second goal came in the 64th minute when Bowen held the ball more than 30 yards, dashed forward and headed the ball into the low corner.

But four minutes later, Viborg had cut the distance in half thanks to a dangerous header from Jakob Bonde.

Areola was forced to fly to save Nils Mortimer to prevent the Danes from going ahead before Antonio scored the third with a touchdown from his side colleague Said Benrahma’s header.

The hearts that lost to Zurich in the Europa League

ST.  GALLEN, Switzerland - AUGUST 18: Hearts Kye Rowles, Jorge Grant and Stephen Kingsley look depressed during the UEFA Europa League playoff match between FC Zurich and Heart of Midlothian at Kybunpark, on August 18, 2022, in St.  Gallen, Switzerland.  (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)
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Hearts’ first European match in six years ended in defeat in Switzerland

Heart conceded two light goals in two minutes after taking the lead as they fell 1-2 to the Swiss champions FC Zurich to hope to reach their Europa League group stage in the balance.

Lawrence Shankland gave Hearts the lead in the 22nd minute of the play-off first leg but the visitors were trailing in the 12th minute.

Adrian Guerrero equalized in the 32nd minute after Hearts failed to deal with a simple long ball, and then two minutes later Blerim Dzemaili took advantage of some poorer defence.

There are additional fears but Hearts have emerged from their first European game in six years with a chance of real progress in Edinburgh next Thursday. The losers are guaranteed a place in the Europa Conference League.

Hearts will need to improve to reach the more prestigious tournament after Zurich got off to a bad start to defend their title and lost their home advantage.

ST.  GALLEN, Switzerland - AUGUST 18: Adrian Guerrero of FC Zurich scores a 1-1 equalizer during the UEFA Europa League play-off match between FC Zurich and Heart of Midlothian at Kybunpark, on August 18, 2022, in St.  Gallen, Switzerland.  (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)
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FC Zurich will lead Hearts by one goal for the second leg next Thursday

Finishing last in the Swiss Super League with two points and one goal after five games, Zurich had to make a 50-mile trip to St Gallen with their own stadium booked for a pop concert but they passed. over that to beat the Scottish Premiership team.

However, Hearts captain Craig Gordon feels they have given themselves a real chance to make it to the group stage.

The goalkeeper said to BBC Scotland: “I think it was a good performance. We scored a couple of goals in a slow but other than that we felt pretty in control of what we were trying to do and execute. good plan of the match.

“We scored our goal and were disappointed to lose two but we are playing well in the return game against Tynecastle.

“We gave ourselves a chance. We knew we couldn’t win tonight but we knew we could give ourselves a mountain to climb and lose it. We’re still in it. game.”





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