In an intense match at the Eden Arena in Prague, West Ham won their first trophy since their victory in the English FA Cup in 1980, thus ending a long-awaited moment for the supporters. The Hammers faced Fiorentina, who, on the other hand, experienced another disappointment after their defeat in the Italian Cup final against Inter Milan. Both teams, having finished 14th in the Premier League and 8th in Serie A respectively, neutralized each other in a balanced first half.
West Ham took the lead shortly after the hour mark with a penalty converted by Saïd Benrahma, following a handball by Fiorentina’s captain, Cristiano Biraghi. However, the players of Fiorentina didn’t take long to respond and equalized with a cross-shot from Giacomo Bonaventura. Fiorentina then took control of the game, seeking to take the lead, but they failed to convert their chances into goals. Finally, in the last minutes of the match, Jarrod Bowen, well-assisted by Lucas Paqueta, secured the victory for West Ham.
In this match, two Moroccan internationals were in contention. Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina had a great defensive performance in midfield, playing a solid role and being involved in the build-up to the equalizing goal. At the final whistle, his disappointment was evident as he faced the defeat. On the other hand, Nayef Aguerd, the solid defender from West Ham, emerged as the big winner of the evening, savoring the long-awaited victory of his team.
