West Ham 2-1 Anderlecht: Said Benrahma, Jarrod Bowen goals steer Hammers to Conference League knockout stages

West Ham eased to qualification for the Europa Conference League knockout stages as a 2-1 victory over Anderlecht retained their 100 per cent record in this season's tournament. Both Hammers goals came in the first half hour and each were fine strikes.

Said Benrahma opened the scoring from a free kick, which he himself won, and his curler left Anderlecht goalkeeper Hendrik Van Crombrugge with no chance. Ad Then Jarrod Bowen, playing a lone role upfront, received a square ball from Emerson on the edge of the box and teed himself up to launch a left-footed rocket inside the top right hand corner.

Premier LeagueScamacca scores again as West Ham fight back to beat Fulham09/10/2022 AT 15:11 The hosts were in cruise control thereafter until a soft penalty was awarded two minutes from time when Sebastiano Esposito went down in the box after colliding with Ben Johnson's foot which had just cleared the ball. Esposito got up to put the penalty home but the Belgian side could not force a draw.

West Ham are now eight points clear of this opposition, who lie third in the group, with two games remaining.. Europa Conference League group standings Europa Conference League fixtures / results TALKING POINT Defensive injuries could be a problem — David Moyes has managed to create a squad which has enough depth to make eight changes from the Premier League side at the weekend and still look a class above the opposition in this competition.

However, this could be tested after Angelo Ogbonna came off in the first half with what appeared to be a knee injury and then his replacement Craig Dawson leaving the field near the end of the game after a collision with Flynn Downes. Dawson partnered Kurt Zouma at the heart of the defence in a back four