Robbie Savage stunned by ‘wonderful’ moment in West Ham United clash v AZ Alkmaar live on BT Sport
Robbie Savage was left stunned by the “wonderful” save Matty Ryan pulled off to deny Said Benrahma in the first half of West Ham United against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night (11 May).
The Hammers started brightly in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final clash at the London Stadium, despite carving open many clear-cut opportunities.
However, arriving on the back of a long-range goal against Manchester United last week, Benrahma had other ideas as he dispossessed the AZ Alkmaar just outside the box and sent a curling effort goal-bound before Ryan’s brilliant intervention.
“It’s a great save,” Savage said while commentating live on BT Sport [11 May]. “As you say, it’s quite fortunate, but this just sat perfectly for Benrahma.
“That is going in the bottom corner. It’s a wonderful fingertip save.
“It bounced just in front of him as well. What a save that is.”
Great opportunity
David Moyes’ side almost got off to the perfect start through the 27-year-old’s strike, but unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.
Ryan, formerly of Brighton, showed his class and composure to get down well and poke the ball behind, with Jarrod Bowen lurking if he parried the ball back out into the six-yard box.
In knockout matches of this importance, getting off to a good start, especially in your home leg, is crucial.
And the Hammers took their recent Premier League form and instilled it into this clash, looking comfortable in defence and dangerous when getting the likes of Michail Antonio and Benrahma on the ball in the final third.
The Algerian has been one of West Ham’s brightest players over the last few weeks and finally looks to be living up to his £30million price tag from 2020.
For too long, the attacker has been a mercurial presence within the West Ham United ranks, but he is starting to deliver the goods on big occasions.
He did so last week against Manchester United to all but seal the club’s Premier League safety, and he almost did again within 12 minutes of this season-defining clash.