Declan Rice and Michail Antonio incredible, Kurt Zouma all at sea – West Ham United player ratings v Gent
West Ham United cruised through to the Europa Conference League semi-final’s as they ran riot at the London Stadium with a 4-1 win over Gent on Thursday (20 April) night.
After conceding a sloppy opening goal to Hugo Cuypers after 25 minutes, David Moyes’s side came roaring back into the encounter with a flicked header from Michail Antonio just before the break.
A Lucas Paqueta penalty gave the Hammers the lead after 55 minutes before Declan Rice scored an outrageous individual goal which saw the midfielder dribble almost 60 yards before slotting home.
The Hammers scored their third goal from eight crazy second-half minutes when Antonio scored his second of the evening to cap off a memorable win and seal a semi-final tie against AZ Alkmaar.
Here West Ham Zone rates the players out of ten for their performances against Gent.
Alphonse Areola – 7
Areola was given his customary nod ahead of Lukasz Fabianski in the Europa Conference League, but could do little to save Gent’s opening goal as his defence was cut apart in front of his eyes. The Frenchman was always confident in possession of the ball, displaying a wide range of passing into his defence and midfield. The keeper was barely brought into action as the night progressed.
Vladimír Coufal -6
The right-back took a nasty knock on the head when colliding in an aerial challenge early on. His right channel was targeted on numerous occasions in the first-half, with international teammate Soucek struggling to shield him defensively and Zouma looking all at sea. Was calm and composed in the seond-half, but didn’t have too much to deal with, truth be told, as Gent waned dramatically.
Kurt Zouma – 4
Could have done better when heading over the bar from a free-kick when just six yards out before being cut apart with ease for Gent’s opening goal, with Hugu Cuypers slipping around the centre-back to strike home. Couldn’t deal with Gent’s attack at all when the away side were in the ascendancy in the first-half. His disappointing night was brought to an end on the 70-minute mark when he was subbed off for Thilo Kehrer.
Nayef Aguerd – 5
After being deemed fit enough to start after a spell on the sidelines, the Moroccan was caught napping in the first five minutes when both of Gent’s strikers were left unmarked from a cross but luckily failed to make contact. Cuypers and Orban ran him and Zouma ragged in the first half with their pace and trickery that Aguerd had no answer for. Had a relatively stress-free second-half as West Ham flexed their muscles in attack.
Emerson – 6
Came in for Cresswell but struggled to assert himself in the early stages. Stung a fierce left-footed strike into Roef’s hands and defended pretty diligently when called into action. The Italian was one of West Ham’s quieter performers as their attack came to life in shortly after the break.
Tomas Soucek – 5
Soucek’s first-half performance lacked any kind of impetus and he was caught napping in transition a few times, with Gent launching numerous counter-attacks down his right side of midfield. Somehow missed an absolute sitter as he lashed a shot into the crossbar from barely six yards out. The midfielder was simply overshadowed by his brilliant partner in crime in the middle of the park.
Declan Rice – 9
Rice oozed class from the offset, nipping in with crucial tackles and interceptions and never looking hurried in possession of the ball. Connected well with a couple of long-range strikes which unfortunately were blocked by flying Gent bodies, before sending the London Stadium crazy with his solo effort. Ended up dribbling all of 60-yards, weaving this and that before cooly striking home with a left-footed strike. Moyes was offered the luxury of taking the Englishman off after 69 minutes due to the 4-1 scoreline. Whatever West Ham United valued Rice at before the night, add another £10million on after that performance.
Jarrod Bowen – 8
Along with Antonio, Bowen was West Ham’s main attacking outlet, delivering his usual vibrant performance down the right wing. Was the architect of West Ham’s equaliser with a devilish free-kick which Antonio got on the end of and nearly got his name on the scoresheet with a low left-footed shot shortly after the break. Had a goal ruled out for a marginal use of his hand and would have wondered what on earth he had to do to get his name on the scoresheet as he went close time and time again. Was awarded an early breather when subbed off ten minutes from time.
Lucas Paqueta – 7
The Brazilian had a nightmare for Gent’s opener, misplacing a regulation pass within his own half and putting it straight into Gent’s hands, to which they went on to score. Showed his steely personality to take the penalty and hold his nerve from the spot to give the West Ham the lead after a Gent handball. Seemed to come to life as West Ham United hit Gent with a second-half blitz of attacking play.
Said Benrahma – 6
Was probably the quietest of Moyes’ attackers on Thursday night, struggling to impact the first-half whatsoever but growing into the game as the home side grew in confidence after the break. Was substituted in the 80th minute as the jeers and chants started in the crowd for every pass played by a West Ham United player.
Michail Antonio – 9
Antonio was back to his bulldozing best against Arsenal at the weekend, and he continued in a similar vein against Gent, picking up the ball deep and driving through the thirds on numerous occasions. Pulled West Ham back into the match with a point-blank header from Bowen’s brilliant free-kick, holding off the Gent defender well in the process. Struck the left-side of the post in a simply manic phase of attacking play just after the half-time break, but netted his second with a powerful run followed by a curling right-footed strike.
Substitutes
Flynn Downes (on for Rice, 69′) – 6
Thilo Kehrer (on for Zouma, 69′) – 6
Danny Ings (on for Antonio, 69′) – 6
Pablo Fornals (on for Benrahma, 79′) – N/A
Maxwel Cornet (on for Bowen, 80′) – 6 – Spurned a late one on one opportunity when played clean through.