West Ham's Jarrod Bowen scored a dramatic winner in the 90th minute to give his side a 2-1 victory against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday.
The win ended the Hammers' 43-year wait since they last lifted a major trophy, the FA Cup in 1980. And it is 58 years since they last clinched a European trophy when the great Bobby Moore captained them to glory in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965.
Bowen ran on to a superb through ball by Lucas Paqueta before beating goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano with a calm left-footed shot at the Fortuna Arena in Prague.
Said Benrahma had given West Ham the lead from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute after a handball by Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi.
But the Italian side equalised five minutes later through Giacomo Bonaventura’s strike from inside the box.
After the game, match-winner Bowen said: "I obviously dreamt of scoring but to score the winner in the last minute, and to do it in front of these fans, I thought I was going to cry,
"I'm just happy. I can't put it into words. We haven't had the best season, myself included, but to give the fans this moment – I'm over the Moon."
West Ham flirted with relegation for much of the season before they finally ensured their Premier League survival by finishing 14th, six points above the drop zone.
The victory over Fiorentina earns David Moyes's side a place in next season's Europa League, to give them European football for a third year in a row.
They look likely to enter the next campaign without skipper Declan Rice, who may have played his last game for the club. But what a way to go out.
After the match Rice said: "This means absolutely everything. I'm not only happy for us and the manager, I'm happy for these fans. I'm just so, so happy.
"I absolutely love this club. They've made me one of their own. I can't even describe when I talk about West Ham fans. To win this now is just another level."
Asked about where he will be playing next season, Rice said: "At the moment there's obviously a lot of speculation about my future. There is interest from other clubs out there but, ultimately, I still have two years left at West Ham.
"I love playing for this club, there hasn't been anything yet so my focus is playing for West Ham, enjoying tonight and let's just see what happens. Who knows."
There was one unsavoury moment during the match when Fiorentina skipper suffered a cut head after an object was thrown from the West Ham section of the crowd.
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Captain Declan Rice after West Ham United's 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final at Eden Arena in Prague on June 7, 2023. Getty -
West Ham captain Declan Rice with his winner's medal. EPA -
West Ham skipper Declan Rice lifts the Europa Conference League trophy as he celebrates with teammates. Getty -
West Ham's Jarrod Bowen celebrates with the trophy. EPA / -
Jarrod Bowen scores West Ham's winner. Getty -
West Ham's Jarrod Bowen, left, celebrates after scoring the winning goal. AP -
West Ham's Jarrod Bowen celebrates his winner with teammates. Reuters -
Fiorentina's Giacomo Bonaventura scores his side's equaliser against West Ham. AP -
Fiorentina's Giacomo Bonaventura, left, celebrates after scoring their first goal. PA -
Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez and Sofyan Amrabat celebrate their equalising goal scored by Giacomo Bonaventura. Reuters -
Fiorentina's Giacomo Bonaventura celebrates with teammates and fans after scoring his side's first goal. AP -
West Ham's Said Benrahma scores the opening goal from the penalty spot. PA -
West Ham's Said Benrahma scores the first goal. AP -
West Ham's Said Benrahma celebrates scoring the opening goal. PA -
West Ham's Said Benrahma celebrates with teammates and fans after scoring his side's opener from the penalty spot. AP -
Fiorentina's Luka Jovic heads the ball into the West Ham net but it was ruled out for offside by VAR. PA -
Fiorentina's Luka Jovic heads the ball into the West Ham net before it was disallowed for offside. AP -
Fiorentina's Luka Jovic scores a goal that was later disallowed as West Ham United's Alphonse Areola attempts to save. Reuters -
Fiorentina's Cristiano Biraghi receives treatment for a cut caused by an object thrown from the crowd as West Ham's Declan Rice checks he is OK. PA -
Fiorentina's Cristiano Biraghi speaks to referee Carlos Del Cerro with his head bandaged after he was hit by an object thrown by a West Ham fan. Reuters -
Luka Jovic of Fiorentina receives medical treatment after he was injured. EPA -
West Ham's Nayef Aguerd, left, and Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez battle. Reuters -
Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano speaks to Sofyan Amrabat. AP
