West Ham 3-1 Viborg LIVE! Europa Conference League result, match stream and latest updates today
West Ham vs Viborg LIVE!
The Hammers welcome Danish side Viborg to London Stadium tonight for the first leg of a play-off to reach the Europa Conference League group stages. In just the second year of the competition, few could argue against both clubs’ desire for a long run towards the continent’s tertiary trophy.
After finishing seventh in the Danish Superliga, Viborg have overcome a domestic play-off as well as teams from Lithuania and the Faroe Islands to reach this stage - and could prove a huge banana skin for West Ham. Shorn of several key players and manager David Moyes for tonight’s game, the hosts simply must win.
Such a game should provide the Hammers with a chance to finally get off the mark after starting their season with a pair of defeats in the Premier League. Stay tuned to all the action with Standard Sport’s live blog, featuring expert analysis from Malik Ouzia at London Stadium!
West Ham vs Viborg highlights
GOAL! Cornet and Scamacca combine
GOAL! Bowen makes it two from range
GOAL! Bonde bites back for Viborg
GOAL! Antonio taps in Benrahma run
Thanks for joining us!
22:18 , Marc Mayo
West Ham head to Denmark with a two-goal cushion in this Europa League Conference play-off tie.
Recap the action with Malik’s report.
Player ratings
21:56 , Marc Mayo
A couple of 7/10s and an 8/10 for new star Maxwel Cornet from Malik Ouzia at London Stadium.
The goal of the night from Jarrod Bowen
21:51 , Marc Mayo
Think West Ham need another goal? Step up, Jarrod Bowen! 💫#UECL pic.twitter.com/kdBkiasElH
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 18, 2022
21:44 , Marc Mayo
We lead after the first leg of our #UECL play-off.#WHUVFF pic.twitter.com/yYjUDq4WVv
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 18, 2022
Full time!
21:39 , Marc Mayo
West Ham claim victory in the first leg of this play-off tie and are only 90 minutes away from the Europa Conference League group stage.
To Denmark in a week’s time to finish the job!
21:36 , Marc Mayo
90 mins: Sondergaard fells Cornet by the West Ham man’s corner flag and Areola takes his time over a free-kick as three minutes go up on the fourth offcial’s board.
21:34 , Marc Mayo
89 mins: Johnson mops up a Gaaei ball in after good target-man play from Grot. West Ham nearly there but Viborg are keeping them honest.
Another cross lands for Mortimer and Coufal sticks in a key block.
21:30 , Marc Mayo
84 mins: Coventry replaced by Downes off the West Ham bench, the new midfielder’s European debut.
21:27 , Marc Mayo
82 mins: Standard Sport’s Malik Ouzia pointing out that Viborg midfielder Jacob Bonde sounds like a Danish 007 and now it’s all I can think about as West Ham attack again.
Cornet swipes at an acrobatic volley that Lund is equal to. A fourth is very much on the cards here.
GGGOOOAALLL!!! West Ham 3-1 Viborg | Antonio
21:23 , Marc Mayo
80 mins: Advantage restored!
Benrahma goes on a blistering run down the left and draws the defence before laying off a cross to Antonio, and it’s a simple tap-in for his fellow substitute.
A big sigh of relief goes up around London Stadium...
Desire and determination from Saïd Benrahma! ⚡️
The Algerian international puts it on a plate for Michail Antonio to score West Ham's third.#UECL pic.twitter.com/NYqTBYGyoL— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 18, 2022
21:21 , Marc Mayo
75 mins: SAVE!
Mortimer chips up a square pass and launches a wicked volley on target that Areola has to palm over the bar. Consider that a warning sign!
21:19 , Marc Mayo
72 mins: All of a sudden, Viborg’s attacks are striking a little fear in the home crowd. Just one more goal and this tie is level with not long left until we head to Denmark...
That header has certainly lifted Viborg’s urgency and confidence - but will they leave space at the back to allow West Ham to bite back?
GGGOOOOAAALLLL!! West Ham 2-1 Viborg | Bonde
21:13 , Marc Mayo
69 mins: VIBORG ARE BACK IN IT!
Sorensen is given too much space by Ashby on the left to float in a cross and Bonde leaps high at the far post to head home... game on!
21:13 , Marc Mayo
68 mins: Cornet has been moved over to the right flank and he immediately takes on Sondergaard, beating the substitute to win a foul and draw the first yellow card of the game.
21:11 , Marc Mayo
65 mins: On comes Kehrer for his West Ham debut, replacing Ogbonna.
Goalscorers Bowen and Scamacca are also off for Benrahma and Antonio.
GGOOOOAAALLLLL!!! West Ham 2-0 Viborg | Bowen
21:09 , Marc Mayo
64 mins: A FINE STRIKE BY BOWEN!
The England man spins his defender, takes a look up and drills his effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards out. A vital goal in the tie.
Think West Ham need another goal? Step up, Jarrod Bowen! 💫#UECL pic.twitter.com/kdBkiasElH
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 18, 2022
21:07 , Marc Mayo
61 mins: The offside flag comes to Viborg’s rescue and not for the first time tonight after a nice bit of play between Cornet and Coufal set the Czech defender away.
Down the other end, Lonwijk forces Johnson into a clearance into touch from his own corner flag. Will we see a rebuttal from the Danes?
21:03 , Marc Mayo
57 mins: The sort of period in the game West Ham may need to capitalise on with a long spell of possession and little coming back at them from Viborg.
The absence of a second goal will make this home crowd very nervy as the final stages near.
Malik Ouzia at London Stadium
20:57 , Marc Mayo
We’ve had more action in the first seven minutes here than in the entirety of the first half. A top block from Areola at one end and a decent hit from Ashby, who I thought played a little safe at times in the first half.
20:57 , Marc Mayo
52 mins: Fornals lays off a nice ball for Cornet to run into down the left and a whipped cross evades various flailing legs from both teams.
Ashby picks it up from outside the box and drills a hit towards goal, which Lund has to tip over.
20:53 , Marc Mayo
47 mins: Early threat from Viborg but Areola deals well with a ball in behind.
Not a huge amount more energy from West Ham, on or off the ball, so far.
Kick off!
20:49 , Marc Mayo
We are back underway at London Stadium...
Fornals replaces Lanzini for the Hammers.
20:46 , Marc Mayo
Will we see West Ham turn to the bench?
Here are there options...
Trott, Randolph, Zouma, Kehrer, Baptiste, Chesters, Ekwah, Fornals, Downes, Okoflex, Benrahma, Antonio.
The only goal of the game so far
20:41 , Marc Mayo
Gianluca Scamacca's first West Ham goal! 🇮🇹
Fellow new signing Maxwel Cornet provides the cross and the Italian heads in.#UECL pic.twitter.com/bLPy6T6zgl— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 18, 2022
Half time! West Ham 1-0 Viborg
20:33 , Marc Mayo
The scoreline is what matters tonight for West Ham and it is there where they lead, after Gianluca Scamacca’s first Hammers goal.
The performance? Not quite so strong.
20:31 , Marc Mayo
45 mins: A solid end to the half from Viborg and Zamburek lands a shot from outside the box on target, although it’s right at Areola and the save is comfortable.
Two minutes added on.
Malik Ouzia at London Stadium
20:29 , Marc Mayo
You wouldn't say West Ham have been impressive here, would you? No real sense that they're marking their authority on the game, for all Alphonse Areola hasn't yet been tested.
20:28 , Marc Mayo
42 mins: An “ooh” and an “aww” from the away end at Lonwijk winds up a crack from distance and flashes a decent effort across the face of Areola’s goal, and wide.
20:24 , Marc Mayo
38 mins: A rare sighting for Zamburek at goal but he cannot catch up with a long ball before Areola gathers.
Another lob upfield sees the West Ham keeper rush off his line to clear from outside the box, safety first.
20:19 , Marc Mayo
33 mins: That looks like that will be that for Anyembe, the Viborg right-back, as he goes down again having tried to play through a knock.
Young defender Gaaei is set to come on in his place.
20:18 , Marc Mayo
32 mins: Lund punches a Bowen corner away from the six-yard box, the Hammers well and truly on top now.
A second won’t kill this tie but another before half time will go a long way to putting West Ham in the group stage.
20:15 , Marc Mayo
28 mins: Much better from West Ham since the goal as Ashby makes a dangerous run into the box that Viborg deal with.
The Danes are under pressure soon after as Scamacca shows his threat from range, firing in a shot that Lund parries into Cornet’s path... the offside flag goes up however as he fails to connect with the rebound.
Time for a water break as a Viborg player, Anyembe, needs treatment.
Malik Ouzia at London Stadium
20:12 , Marc Mayo
That's what those who've made it here came to see. Clever work by Cornet because when you've got a striker of Scamacca's stature you don't need to whip it in at pace.
He's just hung one up to be attacked and there was only ever going to be one head getting on the end of it.
GGGOOOOOAAAALLLLL!! West Ham 1-0 Viborg | Scamacca
20:09 , Marc Mayo
24 mins: SCAMACCA FOR THE HAMMERS!
For the first time, West Ham find Cornet in a good spot and the winger takes on his man in the corner flag.
After a bit of trickey, he whips in a cross that lands right on Scamacca’s head and the Italian has his first West Ham goal!
Gianluca Scamacca's first West Ham goal! 🇮🇹
Fellow new signing Maxwel Cornet provides the cross and the Italian heads in.#UECL pic.twitter.com/bLPy6T6zgl— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 18, 2022
20:07 , Marc Mayo
21 mins: Big striker Grot, formerly of Leeds no less, takes the ball after a suspect challenge in the midfield and opts for a drive from distance, which Areola has covered as it dribbles wide of the near post.
Malik Ouzia at London Stadium
20:05 , Marc Mayo
Save from the racket the travelling section are making, there is a proper pre-season feel to this.
The one encouraging sign from a West Ham perspective has been a couple of nice bits of link-up between Bowen, drifting off the right, and Scamacca.
20:04 , Marc Mayo
18 mins: We’re still pretty far from ‘you wouldn’t know who the Premier League team was’ territory but West Ham need to up the tempo.
Viborg are looking handy, if not dangerous, in attack and it is all a bit flat up top for the home team.
20:01 , Marc Mayo
15 mins: Ogbonna showing a bit of rustiness in conceding a couple of free-kicks to Grot in the centre of the pitch.
We’ll see how long the Hammers captain lasts tonight, with debutant Kehrer on the bench to surely share the load on his comeback.
Malik Ouzia at London Stadium
19:58 , Marc Mayo
I’m not at all surprised that David Moyes has picked Jarrod Bowen tonight. This is the kind of game you’d probably have liked to rest him in but he’s had a slow start to this season and will be hoping this is a chance to find some form.
19:57 , Marc Mayo
11 mins: Viborg’s pretty reasonable start has shown West Ham will not experience stratospheric possession numbers tonight.
Off the ball, the Danes are happy to sit in with their hosts pushing a fairly direct style to hit Scamacca early.
19:52 , Marc Mayo
6 mins: The offside flag saves Bowen’s blushes after Scamacca’s deflected shot lands at his feet and, basically on the goalline, he cannot scramble it home against the diving goalkeeper.
Even when it doesn’t count, it feels like West Ham cannot buy a goal...
19:51 , Marc Mayo
4 mins: Zamburek bursts forward to earn an early Viborg corner and Burgy makes a good fist as latching onto the in-swinger, but it drifts out of play.
Malik Ouzia at London Stadium
19:49 , Marc Mayo
Hardly a glamour tie and more than understandable with a train strike and a cost of living crisis on. But it is very, very empty in here.
19:49 , Marc Mayo
2 mins: The Hammers settle into possession as a play of “Come on you Irons” rings around the ground, the game otherwise played against the backdrop of Viborg’s rather choral chants so far.
Kick-off!
19:46 , Marc Mayo
A fairly sparsely-packed London Stadium watches on as Viborg get the game going.
The players are out...
19:44 , Marc Mayo
Kick-off is nearly upon us!
Around the grounds
19:41 , Marc Mayo
Lots of other Europa Conference League games on tonight as Linfield lead RFS 2-0 in Latvia.
Villarreal, Koln, Nice (who are losing to Maccabi Tel Aviv) and Fiorentina also play tonight.
Malik Ouzia at London Stadium
19:32 , Marc Mayo
Our man in east London will be dropping in his analysis of the game as the action unfolds.
Stay tuned later on for Malik’s player ratings from London Stadium too!
The big’un pic.twitter.com/3qPCnaCh6m
— Malik Ouzia (@MalikOuzia_) August 18, 2022
Thilo Kehrer makes the bench
19:28 , Marc Mayo
A spot in the squad for Thilo Kehrer tonight as the new signing hopes to make his West Ham debut.
👋 Thilo!#UECL | #WHUVFF pic.twitter.com/bCReWTxxsW
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 18, 2022
Flynn Downes interview
19:23 , Marc Mayo
Ahead of today’s game, Standard Sport’s Malik Ouzia sat down with Flynn Downes to chat the new West Ham man’s move to east London.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s my dream to play here but it’s my career and I’ve got to do what’s best for me,” he says. “If I came here and didn’t think it suited then I wouldn’t have come.”
Viborg fans make themselves known inside the stadium
19:18 , Marc Mayo
A vociferous following for the Danes in the capital tonight!
The Hammers arrive at London Stadium
19:13 , Marc Mayo
⚒ COYI ⚒#UECL | #WHUVFF pic.twitter.com/tBUmi8vG4P
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 18, 2022
19:07 , Marc Mayo
Just the one change from the visitors as Jan Zamburek comes into the XI that beat Silkeborg 2-0 on the weekend.
Ibrahim Said drops out for the former Brentford midfielder.
19:02 , Marc Mayo
So, seven changes for West Ham as Gianluca Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet make their full debuts, although Flynn Downes has to make do with a spot on the bench.
Angelo Ogbonna’s long injury absence comes to an end while Conor Coventry and Harrison Ashby make the line-up.
How Viborg line up!
18:55 , Marc Mayo
Viborg XI: Lund; Anyembe, Burgy, Zaletel, Sorensen; Bonde, Leemans, Gronning; Zamburek, Grot, Lonwijk.
Subs: Gaaei, Lauritsen, Sondegaard, Mortimer, Thorsen, Berger, Kiilerich.
Vores 1️⃣1️⃣ mod @WestHam ⚽️☘️ pic.twitter.com/E0xcXZcDUd
— Viborg FF ☘️ (@viborgff) August 18, 2022
The West Ham line-up tonight!
18:47 , Marc Mayo
West Ham XI: Areola; Coufal, Ogbonna, Johnson, Ashby; Soucek, Coventry; Bowen, Lanzini, Cornet; Scamacca.
Subs: Trott, Randolph, Zouma, Kehrer, Baptiste, Chesters, Ekwah, Fornals, Downes, Okoflex, Benrahma, Antonio.
Five of our summer signings are in the squad tonight 👊
Here's how we're lining up...#UECL | #WHUVFF pic.twitter.com/Udt98kyJP1— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 18, 2022
Team news coming up!
18:40 , Marc Mayo
Tonight we take on Viborg in our #UECL play-off first leg at London Stadium!
COME ON YOU IRONS! ⚒#WHUVFF pic.twitter.com/kvUUjpACkY— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 18, 2022
Evening Standard score prediction
18:32 , Marc Mayo
The Europa Conference League play-off round tends not to be where you encounter the next European superpower in waiting, and West Ham can bag a confidence-boosting first win of the season on Thursday with relative ease.
A 2-0 West Ham win.
18:25 , Marc Mayo
Predicted West Ham XI: Areola; Ashby, Zouma, Kehrer, Johnson; Soucek, Downes; Cornet, Lanzini, Benrahma; Scamacca.
Early team news
18:19 , Marc Mayo
Declan Rice is suspended for both legs for his comments against the referee after West Ham were knocked out of last season’s Europa League semi-finals at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Likewise, Aaron Cresswell is banned for one game after his red card in that game and David Moyes serves a first-leg touchline ban for appearing to kick out at a ball boy.
Alphonse Areola, Flynn Downes, Maxwel Cornet and Gianluca Scamacca are all pushing for first starts since their permanent moves to the club this summer with changes likely.
Thilo Kehrer could make his debut, although Craig Dawson is suffering with a quad strain.
How to watch
18:16 , Marc Mayo
TV channel: The match will be televised on BT Sport 1 and Ultimate, with coverage beginning at 7.15pm.
Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the BT Sport website or app.
Good evening!
18:11 , Marc Mayo
Welcome to Standard Sport’s coverage of West Ham versus Viborg!
The Danes are out to cause a mega upset in the play-offs for the Europa Conference League, as the Hammers target a second-consecutive run deep into European competition.
Join us for all the build-up, match action and reaction...