Europa League: Kudus on target as West Ham edge Backa Topola

• West Ham hosted Serbian side Backa Topola at the London Stadium in the UEFA Europa League
• The Hammers returned to Europe after winning the 2022/23 UEFA Conference League
• The visitors took an early lead, but a first goal for Mohamed Kudus and two more sealed the game for the Hammers

West Ham faced a challenging start to their UEFA Europa League campaign, overcoming Serbian underdogs Backa Topola 3-1 after initially falling behind. Torrential rain in East London before kickoff caused disruptions in the London Stadium, with water leaking through the roof onto the concourses. However, it didn’t dampen West Ham’s spirits as they secured a win in their opening Europa League match.

The Hammers had 78% possession in the first half, an unusual situation for a team used to relying on counterattacks. Despite dominating possession, they struggled to find the back of the net in the soggy conditions. The match saw early opportunities, including a deflected free-kick by James Ward-Prowse that narrowly missed the target and a swerving shot from Danny Ings, making his first start of the season, which was punched away by Serbian keeper Nikola Simic.

West Ham United midfielder Mohammed Kudus celebrates after scoring his first goal for the club in a UEFA Europa League clash against Backa Topola. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |

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Thilo Kehrer also had a chance after Aaron Cresswell delivered a low cross, but Simic denied him as well. Lucas Paqueta’s drive forced another unorthodox save from Simic, and when Pablo Fornals lofted the loose ball back into the box, Mohammed Kudus‘ header went over the bar.

However, despite West Ham’s dominance, Angelo Ogbonna’s mistake after halftime gifted TSC, making their European group stage debut, an unexpected lead. Stanic took advantage of Ogbonna’s hesitation, raced clear, and fired past Lukasz Fabianski.

West Ham quickly responded in the 66th minute when Said Benrahma’s cross was inadvertently turned into the net by TSC defender Nemanja Petrovic. Kudus added to their tally just four minutes later, and Tomas Soucek scored the third goal from another Ward-Prowse delivery, marking the midfielder’s fifth assist of the season. These goals finally eased West Ham’s nerves.

Despite the shaky start, West Ham’s victory in their opening Europa League match was a positive outcome. The team, managed by David Moyes, aims to make a strong impression in this competition, hoping to build on their recent successes and continue their European adventure. The match against Backa Topola showcased the Hammers’ ability to respond to adversity and demonstrated their determination to compete at a high level on the European stage.