Bowen’s last minute goal seals victory for West Ham in Europa Conference League

West Ham United ended their nearly six-decade-long wait for European glory with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.

The decisive moment came in the last minute when Jarrod Bowen maintained his composure to slot the ball past Fiorentina’s goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano, sparking jubilation among the Hammers faithful and manager David Moyes.

West Ham took the lead earlier in the match through a Said Benrahma penalty, but Giacomo Bonaventura equalized for Fiorentina with a superb strike. This historic win is expected to be a fitting farewell for captain Declan Rice, who may be departing the club.

Rice will forever be remembered as the first Hammer to lift a European trophy since the legendary Bobby Moore.

The first half ended without either side finding the back of the net, but there was a significant incident just before the 35-minute mark. Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi was preparing to take a corner when objects were thrown at him from the stands, leading to a pause in the game.

In the 62nd minute, West Ham took the lead when Biraghi handled the ball in the box, prompting a VAR review that awarded a penalty. Benrahma stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick, sending the London club’s fans into a state of euphoria.

However, Fiorentina responded swiftly as Bonaventura capitalized on a flicked header from Nicolas Gonzalez, showcasing his skill with a clinical finish.

Both teams had opportunities to score, with Rolando Mandragora and Tomas Soucek going close, but it was Bowen who ultimately stole the spotlight.

Running onto a perfectly threaded pass from Lucas Paqueta, he broke free and found the back of the net, sealing the victory for West Ham. Manager David Moyes joined in the celebrations on the pitch, capturing the emotional scenes that followed the final whistle.