All the drama came at the end, Pablo Fornals settling the tie deep into added time and the moronic reaction of some thuggish AZ Alkmaar fans briefly threatening to ruin West Ham’s evening. The mood had turned acrid at the AFAS Stadion, with hooligans shaming the beaten hosts when they found the pain of defeat too much to bear and responding to the final whistle by charging at the pitchside section housing West Ham’s sponsors, club officials and the team’s families.
Jansen needed his side to take more risks in the second half. There was more hope when Milos Kerkez broke through, the left-back’s cross just evading Pavlidis. Suddenly the Dutch side were pressing. West Ham had to wake up when the midfielder Tijjani Reijnders almost released Pavlidis.
was not entirely clear why the hosts were unbeaten in 25 European home games. West Ham simply looked stronger and fitter, while they had fun when Lucas Paquetá had the ball. The Brazilian was a delight to watch at times, his footwork a level above, and he would go closer than anyone to scoring during the opening period. He deserved better than for his bending drive to clip a post after fine hold-up play from Michail Antonio.
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