West Ham 4-1 Gent LIVE! Antonio goal - Europa Conference League result, match stream and latest updates today

Michail Antonio scored twice and Declan Rice hit a superb solo goal as West Ham marched into the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.

The Hammers fell a goal behind to Belgian side Gent but hit back for a thumping 4-1 win on the night and 5-2 on aggregate.

It means a continental semi-final for a second consecutive year for David Moyes’ side, having reached the same stage of the Europa League last term.

Moyes picked arguably his strongest available side, having managed to create a little breathing space between themselves and the Premier League’s bottom three.

But Gent should have scored with their first attack - Sven Kuma produced a dangerous cross which Gift Orban and Hugo Cuypers both missed in front of goal.

West Ham went close when Kurt Zouma headed over from a Vladimir Coufal free-kick, before there were lengthy delays when Coufal and Nayef Aguerd needed treatment on head injuries.

But it was Lucas Paqueta who looked like he had taken a bang on the head when his lazy pass in the centre was easily intercepted.

Orban was able to charge forward and square to Matisse Samoise, unmarked on the right. His first-time shot bounced into the ground and looped up for Cuypers to bundle home despite the best efforts of Aguerd on the goal-line.

But West Ham equalised before half-time when Antonio powerfully met Jarrod Bowen’s free-kick at the near post.

Moyes was adamant West Ham should have had a penalty when Said Benrahma’s header struck the arm of Samoise but referee Orel Grinfeeld gave nothing.

The hosts should have gone ahead four minutes into the second half when Bowen rolled the ball across goal for the onrushing Tomas Soucek, who caught his shot well but crashed it against the crossbar.

There then came a truly chaotic spell of play amid a claim for handball, which saw Bowen’s shot saved by Davy Roef before Antonio hit the foot of the other post.

When play finally stopped Grinfeeld was called over to the pitchside monitor and decided, correctly, that Joseph Okumu had handled as he stumbled in the area.

Paqueta, eager to make amends for his error, took the ball off Benrahma and confidently fired the spot-kick home.

Rice capped a magnificent display with a memorable goal after winning the ball in his own half. The England midfielder ran half the length of the field, evading two challenges before slotting the ball past Roef.

Antonio completed the scoring with another spectacular strike after he was sent through by Paqueta to book a semi-final next month against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

West Ham vs Gent latest news

• Full match report

• West Ham player ratings

• Remarkable Declan Rice drives West Ham into another semi-final

• David Moyes tells West Ham supporters to savour the moment

Good night

23:00 , Jonathan Gorrie

Thank you for joining Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of West Ham’s win over Gent.

Find our report, ratings, analysis and reaction below!

David Moyes tells West Ham fans to savour the moment

22:59 , Jonathan Gorrie

David Moyes hailed his West Ham squad after they made it into back-to-back European semi-finals.

The Hammers came from behind at the London Stadium to beat Gent 4-1 and win the tie 5-1 on aggregate.

A Michail Antonio header cancelled out the opener from Hugo Cuypers before the home side turned on the style in the second-half.

In fewer than eight minutes, Lucas Paqueta, Declan Rice and a second goal from Antonio had booked their spot in the Europa Conference League final four.

Having reached same stage of the Europa League last season, Moyes believes his team are building a platform in continental competition.

Read Moyes’ full comments here!

Remarkable Declan Rice drives West Ham into another semi-final

22:32 , Jonathan Gorrie

After 36 minutes here, West Ham were heading out of Europe. By the 70th, so confident was David Moyes of a place in the semi-finals that he could make changes with Sunday’s Premier League six-pointer against Bournemouth in mind.

So how did we end up here?

Lucas Paqueta’s penalty certainly helped, nudging the Hammers ahead in this quarter-final tie for the first time since they were pegged back in Gent a week ago. So too did Michail Antonio’s double, the first an equaliser on the night, the second capping what turned into a rampant 4-1 win.

But when West Ham fans look back on this game with special fondness - and for the first time on this Europa Conference League run, you can say with firm confidence that they will - the answer that will spring to mind, as is so often the case around here, will be Declan Rice.

There are some who say that Rice does not do enough to warrant West Ham’s gargantuan price-tag, those who think that, despite living an era when transfer market inflation outstrips even that on the shelves of your local Tesco, £100million remains a scandalous amount of money to pay for a bloke who passes sideways and makes a few tackles. Pity them all, then, for this was another poor night for that agenda.

Read Malik Ouzia’s full report here!

West Ham player ratings

22:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham made it into consecutive European semi-finals with a 4-1 win over Gent on Thursday night.

David Moyes’ side booked a Europa Conference League final four meeting with AZ Alkmaar with a stunning second-half display.

Hugo Cuypers had given the visitors the lead before Michail Antonio nodded in Jarrod Bowen’s free-kick before half-time.

Goals from Lucas Paqueta, Declan Rice and a second from Antonio, however, saw the Hammers win the 5-1 on aggregate.

Here’s how David Moyes’s side rated at the London Stadium...

Full match report

22:00 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham came from behind to book their spot in the Europa Conference League semi-finals.

David Moyes’ side produced a brilliant second-half display to beat Gent 4-1 and win the tie 5-1 on aggregate, teeing up a meeting with AZ Alkmaar in the final four.

The hosts flew out the traps in the opening stages as, for the first time in the tie, they looked to flex their muscle.

Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta, two players the Belgian league as a whole could only dream of housing, were heavily involved in a lively West Ham start and the latter found Michail Antonio in a dangerous position.

Antonio then teed up Jarrod Bowen but his shot was blocked and Paqueta could not follow in the rebound.

From there, however, the tempo dropped.

As Gent grew in confidence, the Hammers creaked. Paqueta needlessly gave the ball away in midfield and a lack of aggression to win it back spread like wildfire throughout the whole team, leaving Matisse Samoise completely unmarked high up on the right-hand side.

While his shot was saved, Hugo Cuypers was there to hit the opener on a half-volley to take an early advantage.

Read Jonathan Gorrie’s full match report here!

FT: West Ham 4-1 Gent (5-1 agg)

21:57 , Jonathan Gorrie

Stunning second-half display from West Ham tees up semi-final meeting with AZ Alkmaar.

West Ham underline status as tournament favourites

21:46 , Jonathan Gorrie

84 mins: When they play like this, it’s hard to think any of the remaining teams being able to stop the Hammers.

Eight lethal minutes

21:39 , Jonathan Gorrie

77 mins: Those three goals came in eight minutes as West Ham finally flexed their muscles.

Gent are ready to pack up and head home!

RULED OUT!

21:34 , Jonathan Gorrie

Ah, VAR have spotted something and chalked it off. Looked like a handball from Bowen.

GOAL! West Ham 5-1 Gent | Jarrod Bowen ‘71

21:33 , Jonathan Gorrie

71 mins: Bowen hits a fifth!

Malik Ouzia the London Stadium

21:28 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham are massive rings around the ground. It’s like getting in a time machine. All is right in the West Ham world.

GOAL! West Ham 4-1 Gent | Michail Antonio ‘63 mins

21:26 , Jonathan Gorrie

63 mins: Game over!

Antonio hits the fourth after a brilliant ball from Paqueta.

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

21:22 , Jonathan Gorrie

David Moyes is bouncing around on the touchline. This stadium has not been like this since the famous European nights of last season.

GOAL! West Ham 3-1 Gent | Declan Rice ‘58

21:22 , Jonathan Gorrie

58 mins: Absolutely wonderful goal!

Declan Rice drives from deep before unleashing a lethal finish.

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

21:19 , Jonathan Gorrie

David Moyes did not look especially pleased that Lucas Paqueta insisted on taking that penalty ahead of Said Benrahma, whose scored four out of four this season. Not sure he cares now.

GOAL! West Ham 2-1 Gent | Lucas Paqueta ‘55

21:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

55 mins: The Brazilian steps up and scores!

PENALTY TO WEST HAM!

21:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

54 mins: Okumu has handballed!

All going on!

21:14 , Jonathan Gorrie

52 mins: Okumu hits the woodwork now!

Seconds later, West Ham are camped in the Gent penalty box trying to find a way through.

West Ham ramping up the pressure

21:13 , Jonathan Gorrie

50 mins: Bowen now forcing good saves out of Roef in quick succession. West Ham going through the gears.

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

21:12 , Jonathan Gorrie

It’s maybe a tougher chance than it looked in real-time but the fact remains - Tomas Soucek has to score.

CHANCE FOR WEST HAM!

21:12 , Jonathan Gorrie

49 mins: Soucek puts too much on his shot and it hits the woodwork!

Back underway!

21:08 , Jonathan Gorrie

Away we go!

All to play for!

21:07 , Jonathan Gorrie

The way West Ham ended that half, they should feel confident.

Still, Gent have plenty of quality on the break.

A look at Antonio’s goal

21:01 , Jonathan Gorrie

HT: West Ham 1-1 Gent

20:53 , Jonathan Gorrie

Very entertaining first-half. West Ham have to fancy this...

CHANCE FOR WEST HAM!

20:48 , Jonathan Gorrie

45 mins: The corner is cleared and falls to Rice but he drags his snap-shot wide.

Into added time

20:47 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham have a corner!

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

20:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

Massive goal for West Ham before half-time. The stadium has come alive. Can’t help but feel Gent sat off a bit too easily after that opener and West Ham built a bit of momentum without really having to do much.

GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Gent | Michail Antonio ‘37

20:39 , Jonathan Gorrie

37 mins: Remember I said the final ball was letting West Ham down?

It isn’t anymore!

Stunning delivery from Bowen finds Antonio, who hits a powerful header past Roef.

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

20:36 , Jonathan Gorrie

I can understand why Said Benrahma keeps crossing to the back stick because that’s where he was caught sleeping twice for Arsenal’s goals here on Sunday. He knows it’s an area where you can punish defences - the catch being there needs to be someone running in to get on the end of it.

CHANCE FOR WEST HAM!

20:36 , Jonathan Gorrie

35 mins: Slightly better from West Ham in recent minutes with Emerson forcing a save from Roef after a well-worked move but Roef saves.

Bowen’s corner is then easily cleared.

Final ball really letting West Ham down.

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

20:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

I’ve put the jinx on Paqueta there - a really poor pass to give the ball away. I think Aguerd’s actually done well on the line there to surprise the reflex to keep it out with his arm. West Ham could’ve been a man down and facing a penalty.

GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Gent | Hugo Cuypers ‘26

20:29 , Jonathan Gorrie

26 mins: Gent have the opener!

Mistake after mistake from West Ham as they give the ball away and fail to win it back, with Hugo Cuypers pouncing.

Paqueta at fault there.

Gent have grown into this

20:27 , Jonathan Gorrie

25 mins: It seemed as if West Ham could blow Gent apart in the opening few minutes but the visitors have grown into this.

West Ham dropping deeper a touch more regularly now.

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

20:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

After that lively West Ham start, things have calmed a touch. Lucas Paqueta and Declan Rice both heavily involved early on, which has to be a good sign.

CHANCE FOR WEST HAM!

20:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

14 mins: Zouma can’t quite get the right connection on a header from a Coufal free-kick. Decent chance.

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

20:12 , Jonathan Gorrie

We heard it in the first-leg and I’m sorry I’ve not brushed up on my Belgian since but Gent have a chant that sounds an awful lot like they’re shouting “Come on you Irons!

CHANCE FOR GENT!

20:11 , Jonathan Gorrie

10 mins: Kumo with an early ball in but Orban cannot quite connect after getting across his marker.

An early warning sign for West Ham.

Much, much better from West Ham

20:05 , Jonathan Gorrie

04 mins: So slow last week in Belgium, they’re really going for this now.

Paqueta and Antonio seeing a lot of the ball early and a better touch from Coufal could well have pulled Gent apart.

Fast start from West Ham

20:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

02 mins: Paqueta involved early on trying to find Antonio but Gent eventually clear.

Some noise inside the London Stadium tonight.

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

20:03 , Jonathan Gorrie

No idea who won the toss, but whoever it was, they’ve opted to swap ends. We’ll have the wind second half, lads.

KICK-OFF

20:02 , Jonathan Gorrie

Here we go!

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

20:00 , Jonathan Gorrie

Fair to say the Gent end is taking a lot more enjoyment from the pre-match DJ set than the home crowd. There are reports of long queues at security checkpoints outside the ground with ten minutes to go until kick-off. It’s not a sell-out this evening but there are thousands and thousands of empty seats.

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

19:54 , Jonathan Gorrie

Any West Ham fans who’d gambled on Anderlecht’s 2-0 first-leg lead and booked a trip to Brussels for the semi-final will be sweating - it’s 2-0 to AZ Alkmaar after 90 minutes in the Netherlands and they’re off to extra-time.

David Moyes to BT Sport

19:49 , Jonathan Gorrie

“I didn’t think we played well in Gent last week. Now it’s the knockout stage so it’s important we get a strong team out. Hopefully we can put on a good show.

“I think they have a pair of strikers which isn’t seen often in modern football. They play a version of 5-3-2 and the two strikers are a handful. One works very hard and the other runs in behind to score goals.

“It’s a tough job and the centre-halves have a job on their hands but if they deal with them we have a chance.”

Malik Ouzia’s pre-match video verdict

19:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

Moyes out to make most of ‘shot in the arm’ after stirring display

19:29 , Jonathan Gorrie

David Moyes says Sunday’s superb comeback against Arsenal has given West Ham a “shot in the arm” ahead of Thursday’s clash with Gent, but warned there are still obstacles to be overcome in his side’s season-long “Grand National”.

The Hammers produced arguably their best performance of the season to come from 2-0 down against the Premier League leaders, with Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen scoring either side of half-time.

That result - and display - has eased fears of relegation, with the Irons now four points clear of the drop with a game in hand on all of their rivals.

It has also given Moyes’s men some much needed momentum heading into Thursday night’s Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg against Gent, with the sides level at 1-1 after last week’s reverse in Belgium.

“I think we’ve given ourselves a real boost, a real shot in the arm,” Moyes said. “Our levels at Arsenal compared to Thursday night were hugely different.

“The performance gave everyone a lift, because we played much better than we have done. We hope it gives us a lift going into this game now on Thursday. If we can perform at those levels we give ourselves a great chance of qualifying for a semi-final.”

Having struggled for form throughout the campaign, West Ham have looked more like the team of old in recent weeks, with Moyes reverting to the counter-attacking style that has served the club well over the past two seasons.

Despite having spent most of the year looking over their shoulders, the Irons could yet end the campaign with Premier League survival and an historic European trophy.

“I’ve been here twice before when we’ve had to get ourselves out of a difficult league position,” the Scot added. “There’s a way you have to get that job done.

“Expectations then were that we wanted to be a different type [of team] but we’ve not reached those expectations, so we have to find a way to win, get results. We’ve started to show signs of that, and we’re going to have to continue that until the end of the season.

“We’ve got the last few hurdles of the Grand National to go now. We’ve got to keep at it, keep going, get over the next few jumps and then hopefully you can see the finish line.”

Malik Ouzia at the London Stadium

19:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

Belgian waffles on offer in the West Ham press room. A classy touch to welcome the visitors - don’t remember seeing many jellied eels in Gent last week.

Confirmed Gent lineup

18:57 , Jonathan Gorrie

Starting Gent XI to face West Ham (3-4-1-2): Roef; Piatkowsi, Okumu, Fortuna; Samoise, Kuums, De Sart, Castro-Montes; Hong, Orban, Cuypers

Subs: Nordi, Ofoe, Hauge, Fofana, Torunarigha, Depoitre, Godeau, Tissoudali, Van Daele

Confirmed West Ham lineup

18:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

Starting West Ham XI to face Gent (4-3-3): Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson; Soucek, Rice, Paqueta; Bowen, Antonio, Benrahma.

Subs: Fabianski, Anang, Johnson, Cresswell, Fornals, Lanzini, Downes, Cornet, Igns, Kehrer, Potts, Mubama

Moyes: West Ham are finally getting back to their form of last season

18:20 , Jonathan Gorrie

David Moyes believes West Ham are finally getting back to their form of last season after Sunday’s superb comeback against Arsenal.

The Hammers were 2-0 down inside the opening 10 minutes against the Premier League leaders, but Said Benrahma’s penalty and then Jarrod Bowen’s second-half volley saw Moyes’s side earn a deserved share of the points.

They might have stolen all three late on, when Michail Antonio headed against the outside of the post, and following on from last weekend’s counter-attacking win at Fulham, the West Ham are at last beginning to look like a team with some identity and resilience.

Asked why his team have struggled to match last season’s performances until now, Moyes said: “I think we’ve tried to improve.

Read the full story here!

Moyes issues West Ham contract update as trio await news on futures

17:59 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham are yet to open talks with any of their out-of-contract players amid uncertainty over the club’s Premier League status.

The Hammers are currently four points clear of the relegation zone and, such are the contrasting outcomes still on the table for this season, they could either be planning for a year in the Championship next term or another European campaign - or even both.

Lukasz Fabianski, Manuel Lanzini and Angelo Ogbonna are all into the final months of their existing deals, which are due to expire this summer, but manager David Moyes confirmed their futures are yet to be resolved.

“We’ve been solely concerned with our league positions,” the Scot said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to get some things done shortly.”

Of the trio, Lanzini is almost certain to leave. The club have an option to extend the 30-year-old’s contract, but he has not started a League game since the opening day of the season and is looking to move on to revive his career.

Crystal Palace and West Ham on collision course over Lille boss Fonseca

17:53 , Jonathan Gorrie

Crystal Palace and West Ham could go head to head for Lille boss Paulo Fonseca this summer.

The London rivals are each considering managerial changes at the end of the season and Fonseca has been identified as a contender by both.

The 50-year-old was in the hunt for the West Ham job back in 2018, while he was also interviewed by Tottenham in 2021 before they hired Nuno Espirito Santo.

Fonseca is understood to be attracted to the idea of managing in the Premier League, but he is currently fully focused on finishing off a good season at Lille.

He has guided the French club to fifth place in Ligue 1 with seven games to go and they are pushing to qualify for Europe.

Read the full story here!

West Ham searching for heroes as Gent decider offers genuine jeopardy

17:44 , Jonathan Gorrie

Flynn Downes will be a tricky man to get hold of should West Ham reach this summer’s Europa Conference League final in Prague.

“I’ve already had two people onto me,” the Essex-born midfielder says of the inevitable scramble for tickets given “everyone I know supports West Ham”.

“I had one person text me yesterday about it. The phone could get put on airplane mode for a few weeks.”

It is a football fan’s divine right to dream and, lord knows, that for West Ham supporters there has been a lot more fading and dying than realising among hopes for this season so far.

Those fretting from the moment the group-stage draw was made about running out of annual leave or which cousin’s wedding might clash with the final looked presumptuous.

Read Malik Ouzia’s full feature here!

Head to head (h2h) history and results

17:34 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham wins: 1

Draws: 2

Gent wins: 0

Prediction: West Ham to win 2-1

17:32 , Jonathan Gorrie

While West Ham were not particularly convincing in Belgium, how they fought back against Arsenal spoke to a character this team haven’t always shown this season. On home soil, they should have enough.

West Ham to win, 2-1.

Gent team news: Castro-Monte expected back

17:32 , Jonathan Gorrie

For Gent, there are no fresh injury concerns at this stage. Alessio Castro-Montes was rested at the weekend and should return to the starting lineup here, having impressed last week.

West Ham team news: Aguerd available

17:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

Moyes has close to a full squad available for the game. Striker Gianluca Scamacca is the only absentee after going under the knife to correct a knee injury.

Angelo Ogbonna, meanwhile, is suspended after picking up a booking in the first leg last week.

Although Nayef Aguerd missed the dramatic draw with Arsenal on Sunday, the Moroccan is now back in training and expected to feature tonight.

Where to watch West Ham vs Gent

17:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s game will be broadcast live on BT Sport 2 and BT Sport Ultimate, with coverage beginning at 7:15pm.

Live stream: The BT Sport website or app will provide a live stream to subscribers online.

Welcome!

17:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

Good evening and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of West Ham’s Europa Conference League quarter-final against Gent.

Kick-off from the London Stadium is at 8pm BST.