BOWEN MAKES WEST HAM HISTORY

Last-minute winner gives the Hammers their first major trophy in 43 years

- Danny Lewis

The Europa Conference League often provided a shining light in what was, at times, an incredibly testing season for West Ham United. They even had more wins in continental competition this term than they did in the Premier League - a first for any English club - with the most special victory of all coming on an historic night at the Fortuna Arena in Prague.

Some have mocked the competition since its formation two years ago, yet the clubs competing in it have done so wholeheartedly. The Europa Conference League has brought Jose Mourinho to tears and seen clubs enter new territory for their nations, with the emotion it inspires being fully displayed by both Fiorentina and West Ham when they booked their places in this year's final, especially as they had last won a major trophy in 2001 and 1980 respectively.

In La Viola's semi-final against Basel, Arthur Cabral's opener was followed by goals from Andy Diouf and Zeki Amdouni to leave the Stadio Artemio Franchi stunned. In the second leg, a Nicolas Gonzalez brace either side of another Amdouni effort took the game to extra-time. Just as it looked as though penalties would decide the tie, Antonin Barak calmly struck the winner that took Fiorentina to the final in his homeland.