West Ham 1-0 Olympiacos – Lucas Paqueta strike gives West Ham valuable UEFA Europa League victory over Olympiacos

Lucas Paqueta volleyed a superb winner as West Ham maintained their spot at the summit of UEFA Europa League Group A with a 1-0 victory over Olympiacos at the London Stadium.

David Moyes’ side were looking for a strong response following their defeat against the same opponents in Greece two weeks earlier, but The Irons had to endure long spells of frustration before finally breaching a stubborn visiting rearguard.

Defender Nayef Aguerd had the best of their first-half opportunities with a trio of headers off corners that all failed to find the net.

The hosts laboured following the interval with James Ward-Prowse’s miss-hit strike the best they could muster until Paqueta swept home on the volley with 17 minutes remaining. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but the VAR check showed the Brazilian’s late run was timed to perfection.

The result means The Hammers maintain top spot in the pool on nine points, ahead of Freiburg due to a better head-to-head record. Olympiacos are third on four points with Backa Topola on one.

Next up, West Ham host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday. Olympiacos visit Asteras Tripolis in the Greek Superleague.

A big, big win for The Hammers. This was a frustrating and at times nervy performance but in the end West Ham got the job done and are still well placed to achieve their primary objective of topping the pool with two games to play.

First up is a trip to rock-bottom Backa Topola before a home showdown with Freiburg in a clash that will surely be key to deciding who will finish at the summit of Group A and avoid a play-off with one of the teams that drop down from the UEFA Champions League.

There are some murmurs of slight discontent amongst Hammers fans at the moment, but it is hard to fully see why. Moyes and Co recently won their first major European trophy in 58 years, are 12th in the Premier League and still very much in the hunt to go directly into the knockout stages in Europe. There have been some blips to go with highs so far this season, but West Ham have endured far worse periods in recent history and both players and manager deserve time to find the performances their squad is clearly capable of producing.

Lucas Paqueta (West Ham). Pulled the strings in a bright start before fading with hints of clear frustration. Found his Mojo again late in the day and scored a superb goal to lead his team to an important win.

WEST HAM: Fabianski 6, Coufal 7, Mavropanos 7, Aguerd 8, Emerson 7, Álvarez 6, Ward-Prowse 8, Kudus 7, Paquetá 8*, Benrahma 7, Bowen 7. Subs: Cornet n/a, Soucek n/a, Mubama n/a.

OLYMPIACOS: Paschalakis 7, Rodinei 7, Porozo 7, Retsos 6, Ortega 6, Hezze 6, Alexandropoulos 6, Camara 8, Daniel Podence 6, Jovetic 6, Fortounis 6. Subs: El Kaabi 6, Scarpa 6, Masouras 6, Biel n/a.

13’ – WEST HAM CHANCE! Benrahma sees a curler from the left side of the area tipped past the far post after some excellent approach play by Paqueta.

35’ – WEST HAM CHANCE! Aguerd glances another header from a right-wing corner wide of the far post. That’s the third time he’s gone close from a set piece.

36’ – OLYMPIACOS CHANCE! Podence skews a volley well wide after the visitors had carved West Ham open with a rapid break down the left flank.

64’ – WEST HAM CHANCE! Ward-Prowse arrives on cue to attack Bowen’s lovely cutback from the left, but he doesn’t quite connect how wants with a 16-yard strike that is too close to the keeper.

75’ – GOAL! – West Ham 1-0 Olympiacos. Paqueta makes a late dart into the area to volley Ward-Prowse’s clipped pass into the back of the net. It is initially chalked off for offside, but VAR checks and the goal is given!

87’ – OLYMPIACOS CHANCE! Mady Camara somehow hits the post with a header at the back stick after a corner from the left was flicked on dangerously by Porozo.

West Ham have now won 13 of their 16 matches in the group stages of major European competitions