Jarrod Bowen described scoring a winning goal in a European cup final as "the best feeling I've had in my career" as West Ham United beat Fiorentina in Wednesday's Europa Conference League final.
Bowen struck in the 90th minute to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory for West Ham to claim a first trophy in 43 years.
Running on to a perfect pass from teammate Lucas Paqueta, the Hammers winger held his nerve to slot home past Pietro Terracciano in the Fiorentina goal to spark wild celebrations among the West Ham contingent at Prague's Eden Arena.
“I can’t sum it up, it’s the best feeling I’ve had in my career,” said Bowen. “When I went through I had a lot of time and it was just about making sure you put it in.
“The keeper came out and I think I fell over, I looked up and the ball was going in and I thought ‘no, this isn’t happening’.
“I spoke to my family before and said ‘imagine scoring a goal in the last minute’. To bring a trophy to this club is the best moment of my career.
“The fans as well, seeing them after the game I was a bit lost for words. It’s the best feeling of my life, never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d win a European trophy.
“I’m so buzzing, all of us are just going to go mad I think. You have to celebrate.
“When the final whistle went I just thought’ this party is going to be crazy. I’m just a little boy from Leominster who never thought I’d be talking like this. My family are crying and it just shows me how far I’ve come.”
Fiorentina v West Ham ratings
-
FIORENTINA RATINGS: Pietro Terracciano, 6 – Called into action inside two minutes with a routine stop to deny Antonio, and that was the only shot on target of the opening 45 minutes. Comprehensively beaten from the spot by Benrahma’s piledriver and Bowen’s late effort. Reuters -
Dodo, 6 – Forced to endure a couple of frustrating exchanges with Benrahma, who caught him in the face in a 50/50 challenge and was then wrongly awarded a corner kick after knocking the ball behind with a heavy touch. Largely untested, but lacked a little composure. Reuters -
Nikola Milenkovic, 6 – Produced a strong header to turn Emerson’s in-swinging corner behind as West Ham applied some rare pressure. Should have hit the target with another header in the opposite box and went into the book for cynically pulling back Paqueta. Reuters -
Luca Ranieri, 7 – Had the better of Antonio in a frustrating first half for the West Ham forward but he was withdrawn for the closing stages in favour of fresh legs. PA -
Cristiano Biraghi, 7 – Talk about being involved in the game’s talking points. The defender needed treatment after being struck by a missile thrown from the West Ham fans behind the goal, and he gifted the Hammers the lead from 12 yards after handling in the box. Reuters -
Giacomo Bonaventura, 9 – Constantly looked to turn the screw in the middle of the park and he sent the Fiorentina faithful wild when he brilliantly arrowed his effort into the corner to level the scores. Didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. AFP -
Sofyan Amrabat, 8 – Another important cog in a well-oiled Fiorentina midfield that refused to relinquish control for much of the tie, although he too saw yellow for a high - and unnecessary - challenge on the advancing Emerson. AP -
Rolando Mandragora, 7 – Went for the spectacular when he took aim from 30 yards with a well-struck effort, but one that was off target. Should have completed the turnaround when he flashed his effort wide. AFP -
Nicolas Gonzalez, 8 – Lively. The forward picked out Cabral smartly with a cross from the right only for the latter to see his effort superbly blocked, but moments later it was his header that was picked up by the brilliant Bonaventura for the equaliser. AP -
Luka Jovic, 6 – Started ahead of top scorer Cabral as Vincenzo Italiano opted for European experience. The former Real Madrid man seemed to come alive in the box but struggled to create clear opportunities and when he had the ball in the net the flag was soon up. AFP -
Christian Kouame, 5 – Failed to provide much in the way of an attacking threat despite his side’s complete control of the ball, and he was replaced just past the hour mark. Reuters -
SUBS: Arthur Cabral (on for Jovic, 45'), 6 – The prolific former Basel man had 25 goals in 41 European appearances prior to kick off, but he was unable to add to his impressive tally and struck his best effort into the body of Kehrer. AFP -
Riccardo Saponara (on for Kouame, 62'), 5 – Had little more impact than the man he replaced. EPA -
Igor Julio (on for Ranieri, 84'), N/R – Experienced a defender’s worst nightmare when he was brought on to tighten things up at the back, only to concede a 90th-minute winner in a European cup final. AFP -
Antonin Barak, (on for Mandragora, 90'), N/R – Handed a late cameo in the 93rd minute. EPA -
WEST HAM RATINGS: Alphonse Areola, 7 – Produced a wonderful save to tip away Kouame’s header at full stretch in the dying seconds of the first half, and he showed good hands to hold onto a stinging drive from Amrabat late in the second. AP -
Vladimir Coufal, 7 – Denied the Italian side a certain opener with a brave, stooping header at the far post, and that set the tone for a solid display from the experienced defender, who played a pivotal role in keeping the Serie A side at arm’s length late on. AFP -
Kurt Zouma, 7 – Had little to do in a contest where chances were few and far between despite the frantic atmosphere. Withdrawn on the hour mark having picked up a knock, although he unsurprisingly managed to recover for the celebrations. AP -
Nayef Aguerd, 7 – Invited some early pressure with a scruffy ball out from the back but he was on hand to quickly charge down an effort from the lively Jovic with a massive block. Harshly booked for an aerial duel with Gonzalez that looked like a 50/50. Reuters -
Emerson, 8 – In with a shout for West Ham’s man of the match. Showed beautiful feet to glide past his man on the left as West Ham looked to build and caused problems with some marauding runs forward. A European hat-trick for the Champions League, Europa League and now Conference League winner. PA -
Tomas Soucek, 6 – The Czech international struggled to give his team a foothold in the game as the Italian side comfortably enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, although he was inches away from grabbing a bizarre goal with a looping flick-on from outside the box. AFP -
Declan Rice, 9 – If this was his final game in a West Ham shirt then it’s some way to go out. The 24-year-old produced a captain’s display with a calm, composed performance and deservedly follows the great Bobby Moore into the Hammers’ history books. Getty -
Lucas Paqueta, 8 – Like Soucek, he struggled to make his mark for 89 minutes, but nobody seems to mind too much when you provide the match-winning assist in the final seconds of normal time. It was a lovely threaded pass, too. PA -
Jarrod Bowen, 9 – What a journey it’s been for the ex-Hereford man, who delivered last-gasp European glory when he raced through and calmly slotted beyond Terracciano to send the West Ham fans behind the goal into raptures. The stuff dreams are made of. AFP -
Michail Antonio, 6 – Struck a tame effort straight at the goalkeeper as West Ham started quickly, but he failed to provide a sticking point when the ball was played to feet. Much more effective when he looked to run in behind. Getty -
Said Benrahma, 7 – Rightfully booked for an obvious dive, but he bounced back to thunder West Ham ahead from the spot with an ice-cool penalty. PA -
SUBS: Thilo Kehrer. Reuters -
Pablo Fornals (on for Benrahma, 76'), N/R – The Hammers’ fan-favourite injected some vital energy from the bench. PA -
Angelo Ogbonna (on for Antonio, 90'), N/R – Hauled on to eat up some vital seconds and repel the inevitable Fiorentina kitchen sink deep into stoppage time. Getty
West Ham led through a Said Benrahma penalty on the hour but were immediately pegged back by Giacomo Bonaventura’s strike. But when Bowen raced through with a minute to go, manager David Moyes almost found himself going full Jose Mourinho.
“The moment he went through I was edging down the touchline,” he said. “If it was going to be anyone, I thought ‘this is the moment’.
“But I couldn’t do a full Mourinho knee slide as the grass was a bit dry and I’d have ended up on my belly.”
It is the second European trophy for West Ham after they won the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup 58 years ago and their first major trophy since winning the FA Cup in 1980.
The victory was marred by ugly scenes after the final when celebrating West Ham fans clashed with riot police in Prague while Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi was left bleeding after being hit by an object thrown from the stands during the game.
Fans poured into the streets of the Czech capital following the Hammers’ victory, with many already in the city centre after thousands of supporters travelled from the UK without tickets.
But a scuffle broke out after police officers tried to confiscate a lit flare as fans gathered in the Old Town area of the city.
Riot police stormed a group after they lit a second flare, with fans responding by pelting the officers with bottles and missiles.
West Ham condemned the behaviour of some of their fans who threw plastic cups and other objects at Biraghi as he prepared to take a corner during the match in Prague and he had to receive medical attention after being struck on the head.
"West Ham United unreservedly condemn the behaviour of a small number of individuals who threw objects onto the pitch during tonight's Uefa Europa Conference League final," the club said in a statement.
"These actions have no place in football and do not in any way represent the values of our football club and the overwhelming majority of our supporters, who have behaved impeccably in Prague this week and throughout our last two seasons in European competition.
"In line with our zero-tolerance approach, anyone identified will have their details passed to the police and will be given an indefinite ban and therefore be unable to enter London Stadium and travel with the club."
Earlier in the day Czech police said they had detained at least 16 Italian fans after they attacked West Ham supporters outside a bar, with videos shared on social media showing chairs and fireworks being thrown.
