Michail Antonio – along with the largest home support in the 127-year history of West Ham United, roaring their side on at London Stadium – was euphoric at Thursday's full-time whistle.
The Hammers’ No9, along with all of his teammates, left nothing out on the pitch as the Irons made history by becoming the first-ever English team to knock six-time winners Sevilla out of the UEFA Europa League with a 2-0 win on the night after extra-time (2-1 on aggregate).
Antonio’s endeavour throughout unnerved Sevilla’s backline, and the hard-working forward provided the assist for Tomáš Souček’s towering header late on in the first half, which cancelled out the lead Munir had given the visitors in the first leg at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.
And then, as the Irons continued to look the more likely to score the tie’s pivotal third goal, Andriy Yarmolenko came off the bench to score the match-winning goal – his second in the last five days – to seal the Hammers’ first ever Europa League quarter-final berth.
"Unbelievable,” Antonio told BT Sport. “This season is like a dream come true.
“This is the first time in Europe for me. I've become West Ham's Premier League top scorer [earlier this season]. We’re just here enjoying our football.
“We dominated. We always believed in ourselves. From the first half we were on them creating chances. [We thought] keep doing what we’re doing and we’d get the win.
“I've been here seven years and the only atmosphere close to this was the last day at the Boleyn Ground. The fans roared all the way through, backing us.
“They were the 12th man. I’ll give the win to them, they were the ones who did it for us.”
Yarmolenko’s intervention came deep into extra-time just as it looked like the Hammers’ considerable attacking momentum might not be enough to generate a match-winning goal – and penalties loomed.
It was another remarkable game for the Ukrainian – his second goal in as many matches since returning from compassionate leave in the midst of the crisis engulfing his home country.
"Andriy Yarmolenko is such a lovely guy,” Antonio explained.
“I can't imagine what he's going through. He’s got a finishing touch now. Hopefully he can keep doing it.”
Antonio himself had been an injury doubt ahead of Thursday’s game, according to manager David Moyes, after the No9 came off the pitch early in the second half of Sunday’s win over Aston Villa.
But he showed little signs of that on an unforgettable night under the European lights of London Stadium.
"I came off Sunday a bit disappointed,” the No9 recalled. “Thank God it was a small injury and nothing big and I managed to play 120 minutes tonight.”
The draw for the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals and semi-finals will take place at 12.30pm GMT on Friday, at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
And Antonio feels that, having eliminated one of the competition’s favourites on Thursday evening, this Club will go into their next European assignment devoid of doubt – and empowered by total belief.
The forward declared: "We fear nobody.
“We play in the Premier League and it doesn’t matter who we play, we try to get three points.
“We’re in this to win it. We’re not just here to take part. Why can’t we win it?"
