Pablo Fornals scored a brace as West Ham United finished the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage by beating FCSB on Thursday.
West Ham cruised to a comfortable victory in their final Europa Conference League group game as they saw off FCSB 3-0 with a youthful side. The result means they finished as table-toppers in Group B with perfect 18 points from the 18 available, and will now await the draw for the next round of the competition when they will learn who their next opponents will be.
Having already topped the group before the game even began, manager David Moyes rotated heavily for this encounter, making as many as 10 changes from the team that lost 1-0 to Manchester United, with a host of talented youngsters handed starts. FCSB had nothing to play aside from pride, sitting rock bottom in the group, making it a dead-rubber game.
The Hammers dominated the first half and had many chances to take the lead as Flynn Downes sparkled and Divin Mubama came close to finding the back of the net on his debut before Pablo Fornals hammered home after a brilliant long pass from Ben Johnson in the second half.
Ollie Scarles was the most impressive of the debutants; the 16-year-old’s service from the left was excellent throughout. He put in another inviting cross for another debutant, Divin Mubama, just before the second, and another delicious cross led to the third when the opposition keeper, Stefan Tarnovanu, parried it out straight to goal-sniffing Fornals.
The 3-0 scoreline means Moyes had the luxury of bringing in more youngsters on the pitch as subs, all of whom looked bright and desperate to shine. The Hard Tackle will now run the rule over David Moyes’ men after what was a very professional victory in Bucharest.
Alphonse Areola: 6/10
Areola simply had nothing to do in between the sticks for the visitors, as he was called into making only one save throughout the game and earned the easiest of clean sheets.
Ben Johnson: 7/10
Ben Johnson, who played on the right side of the back three, looked sloppy defensively as he was beaten all too easily a couple of times and was below par with some of his distribution early on. He became more composed as the game went on, and played a perfectly-weighted, beautiful long pass over the top that sent Fornals clear for his opener, and coasted through thereafter.
Nayef Aguerd: 7/10
Aguerd displayed his quality in only his second start for the Hammers. The summer signing looked comfortable throughout, showing really good passing awareness and a progressive approach. He also showed good pace, strength, and positional awareness to marshal the backline. Came close to scoring his first Hammers goal with a deflected header that was cleared off the line just before the break. Made a superblock late on to deny Risto Radunovic’s shot from point-blank range.
Angelo Ogbonna: 6.5/10
Angelo Ogbonna nearly scored a rare goal halfway through the second half, as he latched on to a through-ball into the area, but was denied by a fine fingertip save by Stefan Tarnovanu. Defensively, the Italian did not put a foot wrong at all, although he was not called into action to make critical interventions that much after a few early scares.
Vladimir Coufal: 7/10
Vladimir Coufal did not have a great first half and struggled particularly on the ball. He grew as the game progressed, his cross leading to Mubama’s goal to double the advantage. The Czech defender got a good assist for Fornals’s second before being taken off.
Conor Coventry: 6/10
Another really good showing from Coventry in the Conference League. He was impressive against Silkeborg last week but had nothing to do here as West Ham controlled the game. Still, he provided a solid midfield foundation with his work-rate and showcased his passing range and composure on the ball.
Manuel Lanzini: 6/10
Lanzini was excellent as well, but he was relatively overshadowed in a game where several of his teammates really shone. He combined well with the players around him and had a couple of decent attempts at goal.
Ollie Scarles: 8/10
The 16-year-old was handed a full debut in the absence of Aaron Cresswell and Emerson, and, despite his tender age, he performed with great maturity on the left. Supplied a steady stream of dangerous crosses, and ultimately bagged an assist for Fornals’s second.
Offered good energy and was adventurous, with crosses leading to chances, including a fine first-half chance for Divin Mubama, another teenage gem. Scarles also came very close to scoring on his debut when he fired narrowly wide off target. Really bright and impressive.
Oliver Scarles vs FCSB
49 passes
82% pass accuracy
2 shots
2 key passes
1 big chance created
4 tackles won
1 interception
1 clearance
4/7 duels wonExcellent debut by the 16-year-old West Ham academy graduate! ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/pF8rCXBzVf
— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) November 3, 2022
Flynn Downes: 8/10
It was not a particularly strenuous night from a defensive perspective, but he put on a fine display yet again in Europe. Downes looked desperate to get on the scoresheet and came close when pouncing on a Fornals’s cross to test the goal.
He moved the ball well, took clever touches, and knitted the play together. Downes even tracked back, made a few tackles, and did some brilliant work in the lead-up to Mubama’s goal.
Divin Mubama: 7/10
The 18-year-old striker was denied a dream debut goal from Scarles’s cross by a superb save, and a deflected header was ruled an own-goal. Although he initially celebrated the goal after directing a powerful header towards the goal, it was later credited to FCSB’s Dawa after the latter failed to clear off the line.
Mubama looked like a potent threat in the second half, albeit one who flitted in and out in the first period. Displayed strength, youthful exuberance, and confidence. Subbed.
Pablo Fornals: 9/10
Pablo Fornals game by numbers vs, FCSB.
2 Goals
68 Touches
42 (91.3%) Accurate Passes
1 Key Pass
2/4 Ground Duels Won
1/1 Aerial Duals WonSolid. 🇪🇸 #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/gpyVYQu497
— Louie (@louiefootbalI) November 3, 2022
Fornals appeared the most likely West Ham player to score in the first half, with a couple of early half-chances. The first was set up by Scarles and the second was when he latched on to a rebounding Mubama effort, but to no fruition.
The Spaniard took the game’s opening goal splendidly, showing fantastic technique, and made it a brace by pouncing on a spilled cross. He also created several chances and guided the young players around him.
SUBSTITUTES
Harrison Ashby: 7/10
Harrison Ashby made his first appearance since August at right wing-back, playing about 30 minutes. He was solid defensively and got forward to attack in other moments. He picked out Scarles with a nice ball to the far post, only for the 16-year-old to fire wide.
Freddie Potts: 6/10
Freddie Potts was handed 30 minutes in midfield as well. He had some good moments during the game. Showed good speed and passing, playing a fantastic ball late in the game that led to an opening.
Keenan Appiah-Forson: 6/10
Keenan Appiah-Forson was introduced as part of a triple substitution on the hour mark. But he could not make a notable impression despite his best efforts.
Kamarai Simon-Swyer: N/A
Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
Kaelan Casey: N/A
Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
