On Thursday night, West Ham defeated Viborg of Denmark 3-1 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off. Gianluca Scamacca, a summer signing, scored his first goal for the club.
At London Stadium, Scamacca rose highest to head in Maxwel Cornet’s cross to give the Hammers, who advanced to the Europa League semi finals last season, the lead.
In the second half, Viborg responded through a header from Jakob Bonde after Jarrod Bowen had opened his season by slamming in a long-range shot.
To give the Irons a 3-1 lead going into next week’s second leg in Scandinavia, Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio worked together off the bench to help the latter score a tap-in.
On Thursday evening, several key players were absent from West Ham. Captain Declan Rice, vice captain Aaron Cresswell, and manager David Moyes were all suspended following a fiery exit from the Europa League last season.
The club will play in European competition in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 56 years if they win the second game.
