AZ Alkmaar fans seemingly get struck by their own fireworks which they set off near the West Ham players hotel ahead of Thursday’s clash.
On Thursday, West Ham are in Netherlands for their second leg of the Europa Conference League Semi-Final against AZ Alkmaar, playing at the AFAS Stadium.
Both teams have the dream of making it to the showpiece match in Prague next month against Basel or Fiorentina. But the Hammers hold the advantage thanks to their 2-1 win at the London Stadium on the first leg last week.
But it seems in an attempt the keep the Hammers players awake, giving them a disruptive night, AZ fans set off fireworks, only for it to go a little out of control…
AZ Alkmaar fans setting off fireworks through the night near the West Ham players hotel.
Do people even think this has a negative effect on players? I find it bizarre, personally.
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) May 18, 2023
AZ Alkmaar had been leading in the first-leg going into half time. A long-range strike from Tijani Reinders put the possession-hungry guests in front of a frustrated West Ham team on the 41-minute-mark.
The tie changed in the last 25 minutes when Said Benrahma’s converted penalty kick restored parity to the Hammers. Michail Antonio then scored in the 75th to condemn the Dutch outfit a loss in the first leg.
AZ remains firmly in this contest. Pascal Jansen will remind his players about their quarter-final victory over Anderlecht in last month’s quarter-finals, where they came back from a 2-0 loss in the first leg to draw even on aggregate, before winning 4-1 in penalties in front their home fans.
AZ Alkmaar Europa Conference League form:
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AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):
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West Ham United Europa Conference League form:
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West Ham United form (all competitions):
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David Moyes claimed West Ham can learn from Europa League exit ahead of ECL semi-final second leg at AZ Alkmaar.
“We took a lot away from it,” said Moyes in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. “We had to beat Sevilla and Lyon to get to Eintracht Frankfurt. We felt we had got ourselves in a really good position. Our form was good and we felt good about winning the game.
“In the end, maybe a little bit of lack of experience of being at that level of the competition might have just took its toll on us. Hopefully, we can learn from it, get a little bit better and we’re all really hoping we can make another step and get to the final.
“The players are more experienced generally. You have to remember, West Ham hadn’t been in Europe for I don’t know how many years before last year. That was our first year and we navigated most of it in a good way. We’ve done very much the same this year, we’ve navigated very well to get to this point in the competition.
“We are now up against a difficult opponent who’s played against some really good teams and knocked some very good teams out of the competition. There’s no guarantee in football, you have to earn it and we’ll need to earn it.”
“Alkmaar have played very well, not just in the game against us but I’ve seen them in others,” he added. “They are doing remarkably well in the Dutch league and have done for a few years.
“It will be a pretty open game. Alkmaar have shown when they’ve been behind before what they’re capable of, we’re unbeaten away from home in Europe. All those things added together make it an interesting game.”
“It would be huge if we could make Europe again,” said Moyes. “It would be three years in a row for West Ham in a league that is incredibly competitive. To do it three years in a row would be great but first of all we’ve got a semi-final we have to navigate. We’re playing against a really good side, a good footballing team and we have to try to do the job which is required.
“I’ve said many times, when you’re trying to build and grow a football club it doesn’t always go in one direction. You have to sometimes have setbacks, it doesn’t always go the way you want it to go, but being in Europe, mainly for the supporters, the club and everyone involved, it’s been an incredible journey we’ve had, this season and last season.
“To be in a semi-final of the Europa League last year and lose to Eintracht Frankfurt was a great run for us. This year we’ve got ourselves in another semi-final. It takes some doing. The players have done a brilliant job over the last couple of years in doing that.”
This is what Twitter users said as AZ Alkmaar fans get struck by their own fireworks they set off near the West Ham players hotel…
@Stoke_Davo: House on west ham to win now, always backfires 😭😂
@danw_1986: Not once has this actually worked.
@Andrewerd: Great to see 😂😂
@Ethan_Whu_: Guess they forgot that’s it’s a 9pm game😂 they’ll just sleep in
@danielburke9: How could you be arsed 😂😂 passion tho
@Sickb0y_5088: Putting my mortgage payment on a West Ham win now
@DylanBregman: That’s the team talk done. Cheers lads.
@markyyypoyser: Probably not given the game doesn’t kick off till 8 o’clock at night anyway
@derbertShab: I’ve heard bigger bangs on the A406 🤷♂️🙈
@AranNicol1994: 🤣🤣🤣🤣 thanks lads. Always works in favour of the team that have had this “disruption”, can’t believe you did this to our team with like 16 hours to go before kick off 😡 mugs
@joegreene2: Total embarrassment, is this what the modern day hooligan looks like then?
@WHUFCGeezer: Tinpot from the alphabet club’s firm! #schoolinthemorning
@Whu_Justin: Small club 😭😭😭
@JameswhufcJones: Would have been more effective if 10 of them stood outside the hotel and greeted the players this morning with print out’s of Aaron Cresswell tbf
@KrissNufc83: Why do fans do this man 🤣🤣🤣
@Trading4Stoners: Very original, this AZ is the most boring club in the world! GO HAMMERS
@_lukecollo: Every time I’ve ever seen this done the team whos fans are trying to disadvantage end up winning. Such a pointless thing 🤣🤣
@bwfc_elliot: So many players after seeing this will just go and drop a masterclass
@colzyyyy: Az need every advantage, small team who’s Europe comes to an end tonight. ⚒️⚒️
@hammers178: The kick off is 9pm not like they can’t go back to sleep
@MrMattyjohnson: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a side lose a game after opposing fans do this to them.
@Croppers_89: Never did I think opposition fans would be setting of fireworks cause there playing West Ham
@TomoLUFC94: Can they come and do this Saturday night too please
@WeldonConor: It doesnt affect teams ever 😂
@TonyYoull: Mad that everyone forgets headphones and noise cancelling ear buds exist 🤷
@TheFirminoShow: It’s pathetic plus it’s the Europa Conference League haha
@TheSirRobotto: 5-0 West Ham incoming. I’ve never seen this have anything but a positive impact on the team.
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