Manuel Lanzini’s penalty the difference with Silkeborg as Londoners go top of group in Europa Conference League
A Manuel Lanzini penalty secured West Ham top spot in Europa Conference League group B with maximum points and few scares from their Danish opponents.
Beneficiaries of two marginal Var calls against Bournemouth on Monday, this competition’s absence of replays helped them on their way on Thursday night.
When Michail Antonio chased down a lost cause of a through ball, Silkeborg goalkeeper Nicolai Larsen slid in both recklessly and needlessly. Antonio left a trailing leg out and bought a penalty from referee Joni Hyytia. The striker’s sheepishness when chatting with Larsen before the spot kick suggested it may not have stood up to super slo-mo scrutiny. Lanzini lashed it in anyway.
It is a mark of West Ham’s progress that European football nights are now seen as chances to tinker. David Moyes selected a three-man defence and gave a debut to Nayef Aguerd, the sort of classy centre-back who is a must-have accessory for any upwardly mobile team.