Olympiacos 2-1 West Ham: Paqueta goal does not prevent Irons' first European loss since May 2022
Olympiacos have unleashed West Ham’s initially European loss granted that Could 2022 by surpassing David Moyes’ side 2-1 in Athens on Thursday evening.
The Hammers came a cropper in the shadow of the Acropolis as they sustained a initially loss in UEFA tournaments in 18 suits.
David Moyes, who pioneered his side to the Europa Meeting League title last period, amassed 7 readjusts for their Europa League Team A clash in the Greek capital.
But his array backfired as a soft urge from Olympiacos captain Kostas Fortounis and an own urge from stand-in Hammers captain Angelo Ogbonna lugged their unbeaten sprinted to a halt regardless of Lucas Paqueta’s late reply.
A hostile reception for West Ham was made sure at the Georgios Karaiskakis Arena, using Olympiacos also letting loose a ultimata to their fans not to throw projectiles or target players using laser pens.
That desirability came after their match against fierce rivals Panathinaikos on Sunday owned to be disclaimed as rapidly as a visiting player was hit by a firework threw from the throng.
Wearing chagrin high in Athens – Panathinaikos were also dabbling at abode a few miles away – about 1,600 West Ham fans were bussed in from the city centre to the headway under a police escort to keep transparent of any capacity perturb.
The expanse ‘ultras’ did not disappoint, using a generous banner estimate “tonite you eat in hell” inviting the vacationers on to the pitch amid a cauldron of hubbub.
Moyes would surely have found West Ham’s initially-half brandish hard to waistline.
The hosts took the lead in the 34th minutes as rapidly as Fortounis revolved away from Emerson Palmieri, James Ward-Prowse and Pablo Fornals far also respectfully, 25 backyards out.
Fortounis launched an old-made toe poke from the side of the box which flew past the level-footed Alphonse Areola in the West Ham urge.
On the stroke of half-time the Hammers found themselves two behind as rapidly as Ogbonna sustained his own noncombatant Greek tragedy.
The Italian utility provider stuck out a foot to block a cross from Brazilian full-back Rodinei, lone to help it past Areola into his own web.
Moyes will have been having a unsafe pill of deja vu; his sick-fated spell in penalty of Manchester Joined encompassed a 2-0 loss at the really same arena in 2014.
West Ham did at the horribly least come out in the 2nd half using a considerable amount more honest, but a low cross from Emerson was scooped over the bar by Danny Ings.
Moyes amassed a triple alternative before the hour mark using Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio entering the fray.
Paqueta cut in half the deficit using a shocking battery from the side of the box using 4 mins vacated, but regardless of a late flurry they could not find an equaliser.
A triumph would have all but pegged West Ham’s circulation into the ko phases but now they find themselves using job to perform, lying level using Freiburg at the top of the group using Olympiacos two junctures behind.