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Europa League | First Qualifying Round
Jul 2, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 

3-0

Sakho (40', 45'), Tomkins (58')
FT(HT: 2-0)

West Ham United brush aside Andorran minnows Lusitanos

Diafra Sakho nets a brace as West Ham United defeat Andorran side Lusitanos in the Europa League.

West Ham United will take a comfortable 3-0 lead into the second leg of their Europa League qualifier against Lusitanos after brushing the Andorran minnows aside at Upton Park.

The Hammers started on the front foot and created their first goalscoring opportunity in the second minute when Diafra Sakho latched on to a knockdown on the edge of the box and shot wide.

Diafra Sakho of West Ham scores to make it 1-0 during the UEFA Europa League match between West Ham United and FC Lusitans at Boleyn Ground on July 2, 2015© Getty Images

Sakho threatened again five minutes later when he rose high to meet Morgan Amalfitano's cross, but was beaten in the air by Lusitanos goalkeeper Gerardo.

Amalfitano was next to try his luck, taking a Matt Jarvis cross on the volley and making the side-netting ripple on 17 minutes.

West Ham piled on the pressure in the latter stages of the first half, with Sakho heading over from six yards out on the half-hour mark and Reece Burke having a header cleared off the line moments later.

It looked like a matter of time before the deadlock would be broken, and it was the Senegal forward who netted the opening goal, heading home a cross from strike partner Mauro Zarate with five minutes of the first half remaining.

West Ham celebrate with Diafra Sakho of West Ham after he scores to make it 2-0 during the UEFA Europa League match between West Ham United and FC Lusitans at Boleyn Ground on July 2, 2015© Getty Images

He helped himself to a deserved second two minutes into first-half stoppage time, tapping in a simple cut-back from Zarate to make it 2-0 and put the Hammers in the driving seat.

The Hammers started the second half as they ended the first, pressing their opponents until they capitulated, but they were made to wait until the hour mark to extend their advantage.

Captain James Tomkins was in the right place at the right time to beat Gerardo with a close-range header to put the hosts out of sight.

It could easily have been more than three for the Hammers, with Burke coming close with a header late on and Josh Cullen crashing an effort against the bar in stoppage time.

Lusitanos, who brought 22 fans with them to Upton Park, failed to cause West Ham any significant problems in the final third.

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Diafra Sakho in action for West Ham on January 1, 2015
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