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West Ham fought back after a one-goal deficit in the second leg against Gent to win 5-2 on aggregate to reach another semi-final in Europe.
The Hammers he scored once against Belgian side Gent, but they managed to fight back for a crushing 4-1 win on the night and 5-2 over the two legs.
Earn a continental semi-final for the second consecutive year for David Moyes’ side, having reached the same stage of the Europa League during the 2021/22 season.
Moyes has undoubtedly chosen his strongest side available, having managed to create some breathing room between them and the bottom three of the Premier League.
But Gent should have scored with their first attack: Sven Kuma produced a dangerous cross which Gift Orban and Hugo Cuypers both missed in front of goal.
West Ham came close to scoring with Kurt Zouma heading in Vladimir Coufal’s free-kick, before there were lengthy delays as Coufal and Nayef Aguerd needed treatment for head injuries.
But it was Lucas Paqueta who looked to have taken a knock on the head when his lazy pass to center was easily intercepted.
Orban was able to charge forward and square Matisse Samoise, unmarked on the right. The first pitch from him ricocheted to the ground and allowed Cuypers to drive home despite Aguerd’s best efforts on the goal line.
But West Ham equalized before the break when Antonio met Jarrod Bowen’s free-kick forcefully at the near post.
Moyes was adamant: West Ham should have conceded a penalty when Said Benrahma’s header hit Samoise’s arm, but referee Orel Grinfeeld conceded nothing.
The home side should have taken the lead four minutes into the second half when Bowen rolled the ball across the goal for onrushing Tomas Soucek, who took his shot well but crashed it into the crossbar.
Then came a truly chaotic period of play amid a handball claim, which saw Bowen’s shot saved by Davy Roef before Antonio hit the foot of the other post.
When play finally stopped, Grinfeeld was called to the sideline monitor and decided, correctly, that Joseph Okumu had handled as he stumbled in the box.
Paqueta, keen to make up for his mistake, stripped the ball from Benrahma and confidently kicked home the spot kick.
Rice capped off a magnificent performance with a memorable goal after winning the ball in his own half. The England midfielder raced halfway through the pitch, evading two challenges before slotting the ball past Roef.
Antonio completed the scoring with another spectacular goal after being sent off by Paqueta to book a semi-final against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar next month.
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