Ten-man West Ham beat Birkirkara on penalties to stay in Europa League
• Birkirkara 1-0 West Ham (1-1 agg; West Ham win 5-3 on penalties)
• Hammers had James Tomkins sent off in first half
West Ham's Diego Poyet scores the winning penalty against Birkirkara in the second qualifying round of the Europa League.
Ten-man West Ham needed a penalty shootout to see-off a spirited Birkirkara effort and progress into the Europa League third qualifying round after toiling in the Maltese heat. A 1-0 defeat and disappointing second-leg display meant the Premier League side needed penalties to go through, although the Hammers scored all five of their kicks.
The substitute Diego Poyet, son of the former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder Gus, stroked home the winning penalty after Birkirkara had also been reduced to 10 men during extra-time, with Mauricio Mazzetti sent off for a second bookable offence.
Having scored his side’s last-gasp winner in the first leg at Upton Park, James Tomkins was before half-time at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium in Valletta.
With Diafra Sakho banned following his red card in the previous round, West Ham – who qualified for the competition through the Fair Play League – had Mauro Zarate as a lone frontman and rarely threatened.
The 36-year-old former Italy international Fabrizio Miccoli put Birkirkara in front on 14 minutes with one of the only clear-cut chances of the entire encounter, with Giovanni Tedesco’s side more than a match for an experienced West Ham line-up.
The hosts got off to a lively start as they looked to cancel out the first-leg deficit, with indecision from James Collins almost allowing a dangerous set-piece to sweep through the box before being poked behind by Joey O’Brien. Despite being on the back foot in the opening 10 minutes, the Hammers had the first telling effort of the game as Mark Noble’s corner was cleared as far as Matt Jarvis, who controlled on his chest before firing a low volley straight at Justin Haber in the Birkirkara goal.
However that did not dent the early confidence of the home side and Miccoli was on hand to sweep home at the near post after smart work by his strike partner Ellenton Liliu.
Mazzetti was then booked for a foul on Zarate before the Hammers’ frustrations continued as After Tomkins and Vucanac wrestled with one another in the penalty area ahead of a West Ham free-kick, the Hammers defender was sent off and the home player booked for the coming together.
Little changed after the interval and Hammers coach Slaven Bilic responded by introducing Poyet and Modibo Maiga in place of the captain Kevin Nolan and Morgan Amalfitano. Jarvis went down under pressure from Vucanac on the hour mark but referee Enea Jorgji was unmoved by the penalty appeals. The winger had a more substantial claim rejected shortly afterwards but West Ham still could not work Haber.
The second half was bereft of chances and it was no surprise when the game drifted into extra time, with Birkirkara looking to hit on the counterattack.
Mazzetti’s red card in the early stages of the second period of extra-time levelled the numbers, and Maiga saw a late effort chalked off for offside.
That took the game to penalties but Noble, Zarate, Aaron Cresswell, O’Brien and Poyet all converted successfully to set the Hammers up with a third qualifying round clash with Astra Giurgiu of Romania, who beat conquerors of the Scottish side Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Guardian
