1. Scarles shines in Bucharest
Ollie Scarles has a bright future ahead of him if Thursday’s showing is anything to go by.
Having also made his U21s debut this season, the sixth-youngest debutant in the Club’s history was calmness personified as he made his senior bow in Romania.
A considerable feature of his efforts was his passing range in Bucharest. As the Hammers defeated FCSB 3-0, the Irons could have netted four or even five had a teammate managed to convert one of the 16-year-old’s whipped crosses.
Scarles, who played a key role in the Hammers' second of the night, might have capped his debut with a goal of his own but flashed an effort narrowly wide of the FCSB net in the second half.
2. Simply Divin!
If Ollie Scarles was close to a debut goal, Divin Mubama went even closer.
Peeling to the back post, the 18-year-old headed a Vladimír Coufal cross into the net with the aid of deflection. He then celebrated in style in front of the Claret & Blue Army.
Later the strike was awarded as a Joyskim Dawa own-goal, but there was plenty to take from the youngster's all-round performance in Romania.
Mubama led the line with confidence for just short of 70 minutes, catching the eye with his movement, especially. It was a showing that suggests his first senior goal is not too far away.
3. The Academy of Football
Alongside Divin Mubama and Ollie Scarles, Kaelan Casey and Kamarai Swyer also made their debuts in Romania.
The duo came off the bench with 13 minutes to be played at the National Arena to ensure the Irons secured a 3-0 win over FCSB on Thursday evening.
West Ham played out the final ten minutes with an impressive intelligence for such a young group of players to secure an eighth straight win in European competition this season.
Fornals was effusive in his praise for the youngsters. He stated: “The Academy of Football is supporting the first team with very nice players. I am really happy for the players who had the chance to play.”
Swyer and Casey's introduction took the total number of players from the Academy of Football to feature in Bucharest to nine – four starters and five from the substitutes’ bench.
The Academy of Football. pic.twitter.com/dFVZIyLj8J
— West Ham United (@WestHam) November 3, 2022
4. 100 per cent!
The Irons became the first side to record a 100 per cent record in a UEFA Europa Conference League group-stage.
After a 1-0 win over Silkeborg IF secured progression to the round of 16, a Pablo Fornals brace – and a goal all-but scored by Divin Mubama on Thursday at National Arena – saw the Irons register their sixth win of Group B and their eighth triumph in Europe this term.
Six games. Six wins. The round of 16 now awaits for David Moyes’ men.
5. Pablo marks 150 with brace!
Pablo Fornals reached the milestone of appearance number 150 for West Ham United in some style.
The Spaniard, who moved to east London from Villarreal in July 2019, made his 20th European appearance for the Irons – as it stands, no Hammer has made more than the No8.
On Thursday evening, Fornals struck his first and second goal in European football for the Hammers, showing his class in Bucharest with two well-taken strikes.
The first was a left-footed effort whipped past the FCSB goalkeeper, while the second was equally emphatic – and converted in front of the travelling Claret & Blue Army.
“I said to Pablo before we came out that he could stay at home,” Moyes said. “Pablo always gets a goal here or there but him getting a couple of goals tonight will do him the world of good. He needs that.
"Last year he got quite a few goals and loads of assists for us. He’s a really important player because he’s a hybrid; he can do loads of different jobs for us and we really like him. We’re pleased for him.”
