AZ Alkmaar Fans Almost Dampen West Ham United's Europa Conference League Victory

 

West Ham United secured a spot in a European cup final after a remarkable triumph over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League. However, the home fans of AZ Alkmaar nearly spoiled the celebration for the Premier League side. 

In the thrilling first leg of the semi-final tie, West Ham United emerged victorious with a 2-1 win at the London Stadium. They carried their momentum into the second leg, stunning the Dutch club in front of their own fans to secure a place in their first European final since 1976, with a 3-1 aggregate score.

This impressive result highlighted West Ham's growth since their elimination from the Europa League semifinals over a year ago. The team learned from their past mistakes, displaying composure and determination to secure a decisive victory. In the previous season, they had faltered due to a lackluster performance against Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg.

The Europa Conference League final is scheduled for June 7 in Prague, where West Ham United will face off against Fiorentina. The Italian side advanced to the final by defeating Basel in the 129th minute of their intense match.

Should West Ham United clinch their first major trophy since 1980, they will earn a spot in the Europa League for the following season. Currently positioned 15th in the Premier League, the club aims to build on their recent success and continue their upward trajectory.

While West Ham players and their devoted supporters celebrated Thursday night's victory over AZ Alkmaar, a disturbing incident unfolded at the AFAS Stadion. Reports suggest that some home fans instigated a riot, specifically targeting the section of the stadium where the families and friends of the Premier League footballers were seated. Regrettably, this marred the post-game celebration for the West Ham United side.

Addressing the situation in a post-match interview with BT Sport, West Ham's coach, David Moyes, expressed concern. He stated, "We'll need to wait for the dust to settle to understand the full extent of the issue. The primary concern is that the affected area is where the players' families and friends were present. Many players became understandably agitated as they were unable to ascertain the well-being of their loved ones. We'll have to rely on the officials to provide us with a clear understanding of what transpired."