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UECL: West Ham beat AZ Alkmaar to qualify for first European final in 47 years

West Ham players celebrate

West Ham United beat AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night in the UEFA Europa Conference League to reach their first European final since 1979.

The Hammers had won the first leg 2-1 at the London Stadium to qualify for the final showdown in Prague, Czech Republic, on June 7.

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They scored a 94th-minute  winner in the Netherlands to make it 3-1 on aggregate.

West Ham players celebrate
West Ham players celebrate

David Moyes’ side soaked up plenty of pressure at AFAS Stadium until Pablo Fornals scored on the counter-attack in second-half injury time.

West Ham will face Fiorentina, who beat FC Basel after extra time.

The Hammers are hoping to lift their first major trophy since they lifted the 1980 FA Cup; they were one of three winners of the 1999 Intertoto Cup.

West Ham’s last European final had been in the 1975-76 Cup Winners’ Cup when they lost 4-2 to Anderlecht.

ALSO READ:EPL: De Gea howler gifts West Ham three points against Manchester United

They came agonisingly close to breaking that duck last season, losing 3-1 on aggregate to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-finals.

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Ademola is a writer, editor and proofreader with many years of experience. He loves music, football and books.
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