Freiburg 1-2 West Ham - Nayef Aguerd scores winner as Hammers secure crucial win to make history

West Ham made it 17 games in Europe without defeat, as new English record, as goals from Lucas Paqueta and Nayef Aguerd saw off Freiburg and took them top of Group A with two wins from two games.

By far the better side in the first half, West Ham took the lead on eight minutes when a terrific header from Lucas Paqueta finished off Jarrod Bowen’s fine cross.

Freiburg, though, improved a bit after the break and on 49 minutes levelled the match, Roland Sallai smashing home after two good saves from Lukasz Fabianski.

It looked, though, like West Ham could up it if they needed to and sure enough on 67 minutes, Aguerd applied the finish James Ward-Prowse’s excellent corner demanded.

Freiburg huffed and puffed thereafter but never seriously threatened, while West Ham look by far the best team in the group and, given a fair wind, potential winners.

Football’s is weird, really. Had Uefa not invented the Conference League, there’s a strong chance David Moyes would no longer be manager of West Ham, instead calling it quits at the end of last season.

But they did, they did, and now look! West Ham have had a decent first XI for a while now, but in Lucas Paqueta they signed a player better than those usually available to them and, with the money received for Declan Rice, strengthened both their strongest side and their squad.

Add to that their prowess at set-pieces and you’re talking about a club on the up. The team is are solid at the back – Aguerd scored a good goal tonight, but he is a very useful defender; in midfield they have endeavour, power and creativity; then up front they have power, variety and imagination. Suddenly West Ham look a threat to win the competition.

Lucas Paqueta (West Ham) Paqueta has lovely touch and vision, backed up with bristling physicality. Scored one, made other chances, and looked by far the most accomplished player on the pitch.

Freiburg: Atobolu 4, Sildillia 6, Ginter 6, Lienhat 5, kubler 5, Hofler 5, Eggestein 5, Sallai 7, Grifo 5, Holer 5, Adamu 5. Doan 6, Rohl 6, Weisshaupt 6, Philipp 6, Breunig 6.

West Ham: Fabianski 6, Coufal 7, Mavropanos 6, Aguerd 7, Kehrer 6, Alvarez 6, Ward-Prowse 7, Kudus 6, Paqueta 7, Fornals, 6, Bowen 7. Subs: Emerson 6, Soucek 6, Benrahma 80, Mubama 90, Ings 90.

8’ - GOAL! Freiburg 0-1 West Ham (Paqueta) This is very nicely done. Coufal releases Bowen down the right, and he beats Lienhart then slings over a lovely cross from wide ... and, in the middle Paqueta heads down and across Atudolu, who gets a hand to it and should keep it out but doesn't. West Ham lead!

12’ - HERE COME WEST HAM AGAIN!
They win the ball high then Kudus, on the right of the box, jinks across Lienhart and slaps a low shot that Atudolu fumbles ... onto the post. West Ham should be testing him every chance they get, Sunday-league style.

49’ - GOAL! Freiburg 1-1 West Ham (Sallai) Doan, out on the right, slides a tremendous pass in behind the near side of the West Ham defence, Sallai getting on the end of it and shooting; Fabianski saves well, then again from Kubler. But the ball arrives back with Sallai who unloads the suitcase, hoofing it high into the net and thorough Fabianski's desperate dive.

55’ - SILDILIA INTO HOLER
Who holds up and sends left; Hofler then escorts a glorious ball to back post where Sildillia arrives, looping a header over Fabianski and onto the bar then, when the ball bounces down, Holer can't contain his excitement, shanking over from four yards. Whoops!

67’ - GOAL! Freiburg 1-2 West Ham (Aguerd) Oh dear. Atubolu bumrushes Ward-Prowse's fine corner, doesn't get it, and Aguerd directs a very decent header home. That's the thing with West Ham: you can shut them down, but they can still nail you with a set-piece.

79’ - PAQUETA HAS PLAYED WELL TONIGHT
And receiving a fine pass slung long by Aguerd, he spreads to Kudus who shimmies, drags outside Lienhart, and lashes a low shot through his legs that scuds just wide of the far post.