Europa Conference League Final: Bowen's Late Winner Ends West Ham's 43-Year Wait For Glory
8th June 2023
The victory also seals a place in next season's Europa League and means European football for the third year running for the first time in the club's history
- West Ham ended their 43-year wait for a trophy with a dramatic 2-1 victory against Fiorentina to in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday night
- Jarrod Bowen proved to be the hero for West Ham with a well-taken 90th minute winner after a sublime through ball from Lucas Paqueta
West Ham ended their 43-year wait for a trophy with a dramatic 2-1 victory against Fiorentina to in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday night.
Jarrod Bowen proved to be the hero for West Ham with a well-taken 90th minute winner after a sublime through ball from Lucas Paqueta.
The game seemed destined for extra time after a goalless first half was followed by a Said Benrahma penalty in the 62nd minute to give the Hammers the lead.
The lead only lasted five minutes as Giacomo Bonaventura scored a great goal to level matters, before Bowen had the final say to send the West Ham fans into delirium.
"You always say you want to score in the last minute and to do it here in front of these fans. I thought I was going to cry.
"I’m so happy. We haven’t had the best season, myself included, but to do it tonight, I’m over the moon," Bowen said after the game.
"I think in my position you make that run 10 times you might get that ball once. As soon as you get it you’ve got to put it away," he added.
It was David Moyes' first ever piece of silverware in his career and it showed as he sprinted down the touch line in jubilant celebration.
It means captain Declan Rice, in probably his final game for the club, emulated club greats Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds by leading the club to glory.
Moore captained West Ham to the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup and Bonds led them to the FA Cup in 1975 and 1980.
The victory also seals a place in next season's Europa League and means European football for the third year running for the first time in the club's history.