Viborg 0 West Ham 3: David Moyes side breeze into Europa Conference League group stages after hammering win in Denmark
GIANLUCA SCAMACCA is providing the answers to West Ham’s goalscoring woes as he helped fire them into the Europa Conference League group stages.
The Italian striker – a £30.5m summer signing from Sassuolo – netted on his debut start for the Hammers in last week’s 3-1 play-off first leg victory over Viborg.
And away in Denmark, he converted in the 22nd minute to make it two from two in a West Ham shirt – easing some of David Moyes’ early-season concerns.
Moyes has so far been reluctant to throw Scamacca – one of seven buys this window – into a Prem starting XI given a lack of pre-season minutes.
But the Scottish coach may be left with little choice if the forward’s red-hot form continues.
The East London side are rock-bottom of the Premier League with no points and no goals from their opening three outings this campaign.
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In Europe at least, scoring is the least of their worries as Said Benrahma and Tomas Soucek also got in on the act in the second half.
West Ham will find out their group stage opponents in the draw on Friday afternoon.
Moyes made six changes from the woeful 2-0 home defeat to Brighton on Sunday, but it remained a strong team with an eye on getting the job done.
Angelo Ogbonna continued his recovery from a serious knee injury with another start, Aaron Cresswell returned from suspension and Thilo Kehrer kept his place in the side.
Skipper Declan remained missing as he served the second of his two-match Euro ban, as did Vladimir Coufal after suffering a concussion against the Seagulls.
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Latest capture Emerson Palmieri was ineligible for this trip, but Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet teamed up again after shining in the first leg.
Despite the odd counter from the hosts – on their first Euro journey for 22 years – West Ham took control as Scamacca sent an early warning of his instinct for goal.
Lucas Lund Pedersen’s attempt to play out from the back was intercepted by Soucek, only for the keeper to make a good recovery save from Scamacca’s first-time effort.
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It did not take long for Pedersen to be beaten moments later however, Scamacca producing an ingenious flick into the roof of the net from Soucek’s low cross.
Viborg briefly rallied. French shot-stopper Alphonse Areola made a terrific double save to deny both Jay-Roy Grot and Justin Lonwijk just before half-time.
But a fine team goal by West Ham after the break killed any chance of an unlikely comeback.
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Scamacca’s lay-off, Cornet’s volleyed pass and Benrahma’s cool finish into the bottom corner made it 2-0 on 51 minutes.
And 12 minutes later, Soucek made it three by pouncing on Pedersen’s palmed save to initially stop Thilo Kehrer’s bullet header.