Planet Swans ArchivesBirkirkara 1 West Ham 0 (1-1 on aggregate, West Ham win 5-3 on penalties
West Ham survived a scare to progress to the third qualifying round of the Europa League but they needed penalties to get past their opponents after being beaten in the second leg of their tie
Having a 1 goal advantage only from the game last week at Upton Park it was always going to prove tricky for West Ham and so it proved.
The Hammers fell behind in the 14th minute to a Fabrizio Miccoli goal from close range, before James Tomkins saw red in the halfรขโฌโขs closing stages for an altercation with Nikola Vukanac.
Matias Mazzetti was dismissed in the second half of extra time for a second caution, but the hosts would cling onto their slender advantage to take the game to spot-kicks.
Ironically, it was Vukanac who missed the decisive spot-kick, skying his penalty woefully over the bar with the Hammers 3-2 to the good, ultimately leaving Diego Poyet to roll home the Hammersรขโฌโข fifth and secure Slaven Bilicรขโฌโขs menรขโฌโขs progress.
Slaven Bilic: รขโฌลThe most important thing is that we are through
รขโฌลThey started better, they pressed up front, they definitely knew they would get used to conditions in this heat
“We took the control of the game, but we didnรขโฌโขt create chances, even though we we were around the box a lot and passing the ball.”
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Feyenoord 0 Southampton 3
Graziano Pellรยจ scored on his return to Feyenoord as Southampton beat the Dutch club 3-0 in a pre-season friendly at De Kuip.
For Ronald Koemanรขโฌโขs men it was the final opportunity to impress ahead of next Thursdayรขโฌโขs Europa League third qualifying round clash with Vitesse.
The Italian striker certainly made his mark, scoring from close range after good work from Duร ยกan Tadiรโก four minutes before the half-time break.
A headed goal from Maya Yoshida just after the hour mark extended the lead for Koemanรขโฌโขs side before substitute Juanmi rounded off the scoring late on.
Ronald Koeman: รขโฌลThe lads showed again a great spirit, a great teamwork and Iรขโฌโขm happy about this week because we make more steps to be close to physically 100 per cent. Next week we have to start in a serious way.
รขโฌลAfter the 2-0 we had total control, maybe some good shots of Feyenoord but they didnรขโฌโขt create any chances. We controlled the game.”
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