West Ham vs Genk LIVE: Europa League result, final score and reaction tonight
Relive all the live action from the London Stadium
West Ham continued their European cruise with a thumping 3-0 win over Belgian side Genk.
Goals from Craig Dawson, Issa Diop and Jarrod Bowen made it three wins out of three for the Hammers in their maiden Europa League group campaign and kept them firmly on course for the knockout stages.
West Ham are already six points clear at the top of Group H and could even secure qualification as group winners in their next match, in Genk in a fortnight, with two games to spare.
Unlike Sunday’s opponents Tottenham, who left their entire starting XI at home for their unsuccessful continental trip to Vitesse Arnhem, Hammers boss David Moyes kept the likes of Bowen, Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Aaron Cresswell in his line-up.
Moyes is clearly eager to secure qualification as quickly as possible, although he took no risks with striker Michail Antonio, having rested him completely ahead of the London derby.
Antonio’s absence as the focal point of West Ham’s attack was felt in a disjointed first half against the Belgian Cup holders.
The hosts were given an early fright when Genk had the ball in the net after Theo Bongonda converted a cross from Junya Ito, but the latter was offside.
Soucek had needed plastic surgery on some horrific facial injuries earlier in the week, having been caught by a stray boot against Everton on Sunday.
But that did not stop the Czech international getting his head to a Rice cross for West Ham’s best chance of the opening stages, with Genk goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt making a diving save.
With the Hammers settling down, Bowen missed a golden opportunity on the half hour when he kicked at thin air in front of goal from Ben Johnson’s inviting low cross, and Dawson headed over from a corner.
Yet West Ham had another lucky escape when goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was beaten to a cross by Genk’s towering striker Paul Onuachu, whose header looped just wide.
Bowen failed to get on the end of another low cross, this time from Cresswell, before West Ham broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time.
Cresswell swung in a corner and centre-half Dawson rose highest to steer the ball home off his shoulder.
West Ham have become set-piece specialists under Moyes and they were at it again at the start of the second half, Dawson’s defensive partner Diop heading home at the near post from Cresswell’s free-kick.
Moments later the hosts stole possession near the halfway line and Bowen galloped forward before firing home a fine solo goal to wrap up the victory.
Vitesse 0 - 0 Tottenham
Both teams made mistakes during that first 45 minutes. Tottenham gave the ball away countless times and never seemed to get out of first gear.
Nuno Espirito Santo will want more urgency, more intent and sharper passing in the second half.
A shot on target would be nice too.
Vitesse 0 - 0 Tottenham
The other Group G game of the night has Rennes 2-1 up against Mura meaning that as things stand Tottenham are dropping to second place in the table.
They need to win Group G to avoid a play-off match to get into the knockout stages.
Half-time: Vitesse 0 - 0 Tottenham
45+1 mins: Nuno Espirito Santo has named a second string starting XI for Tottenham and it’s clear. The players haven’t quite gelled in attack with the visitors only having two shots in the first half.
Vitesse have had seven but most have come from outside the box or have been off-target. Neither goalkeeper has had much to do and the game remains deadlocked.
The crowd have been great though.
Vitesse 0 - 0 Tottenham
45 mins: Almost. Tanganga gets forward on the overlap and Bergwijn sends him the ball. He flicks it into the six-yard box towards Scarlett but Riechedly Bazoer blocks the pass. Dele Alli wins if off the centre-back but is swarmed by three defenders and the ball rolls loose. Tanganga lunges in to try and take back possession but he fouls Bazoer and Vitesse get a reprieve.
One added minute to play.
Vitesse 0 - 0 Tottenham
42 mins: Bergwijn chases down a long ball and wins a throw in after Schubert spoons the ball out of play. Davies sends it back into play but fouls Dasa as Vitesse win the ball.
Steven Bergwijn knocks the ball away and argues with the referee which sees him pick up a yellow card.
Vitesse 0 - 0 Tottenham
39 mins: Lo Celso swings another free kick into the box from the left wing for Spurs. He picks out Sanchez who knocks the ball down for Gil. He tries to chip the ball over the bodies in front of him but doesn’t get enough dip on the shot and the ball goes over the crossbar.
Vitesse 0 - 0 Tottenham
36 mins: Tottenham are defending their own area pretty well but Vitesse are getting the ball into some dangerous areas. Openda carries the ball into the far side of the box and knocks it to Frederiksen. His back is to goal and he has no space to turn. Instead he passes the ball back to Wittek who shoots from range and belts his effort over the crossbar.
Vitesse 0 - 0 Tottenham
33 mins: Rasmussen gets into trouble in his own box as Lo Celso presses him and wins back the ball for Spurs. He takes it to the byline but can’t find a cutback into Scarlett.
Vitesse clear their lines and work the ball back up the pitch. Dasa tries to slip Darfalou into the box but the striker is tackled and Spurs come away with possession.
Vitesse 0 - 0 Tottenham
30 mins: Tottenham keep up the pressure on the Vitesse penalty area and win a free kick over to the right of the box. Lo Celso curls the deadball towards the near post where it hits Schubert in the chest and bounces out of play off Davinson Sanchez.
Vitesse 0 - 0 Tottenham
28 mins: Bryan Gil brings the ball into the inside left channel for Spurs and us brought down by Bero. Lo Celso curls a teasing free kick into the six-yard box and Jacob Rasmussen beats Scarlett to the ball. He heads it on and Wittek puts it behind for a Tottenham corner.
Lo Celso knocks the corner ball short but is given it back. He sends in a cross that Tanganga flicks on but Rasmussen manages to clear the danger.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments