Trevor Sinclair congratulated West Ham United on Twitter for a ‘professional, organized and solid’ performance during their 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League.
The Hammers kicked off their Group H campaign with victory at the Stadion Maksimir on Thursday. Goals from Michail Antonio and Declan Rice in either half sealed all three points for David Moyes’ men. With the Irons winning on their Europa League Group Stage debut.
West Ham never displayed their European inexperience against Dinamo, who reached the Europa League quarter-finals last season. Modri also beat Tottenham Hotspur on aggregate in the Last 16 after a 3-0 win at home back in March.
Antonio broke the deadlock after 21-minutes by pouncing on a loose back pass. His strike also marked West Ham’s first goal in a major European competition since 1999. While Declan Rice added five minutes in to the second-half with a sublime solo goal. The 26-cap England star ran half the length of the pitch and scored through Dominik Livakovic’s legs.
West Ham impressed Sinclair with their structure and expert fulfilment of Moyes’ game plan against Dinamo Zagreb. The 48-year-old firmly believes his former side deserved the win at Stadion Maksimir to top Group H over Genk.
“Brilliant win in Zagreb for West Ham,” Sinclair wrote. “Professional, organized and solid, well done men. Enjoy the night and safe travels to all the Hammers fans. Well deserved.”
Will West Ham go on to win Group H after victory over Dinamo Zagreb?
For a side who had never featured in the Europa League Group Stage before, West Ham produced a commanding display to beat Dinamo Zagreb and earn Sinclair’s praise. Moyes’ men stifled Modri’s efforts throughout, while Rice’s goal ended the game as a competition.
West Ham did not just sit back and defend to try and beat Dinamo, but took the game to them. They dominated their hosts with Rice and Tomas Soucek central to locking down the core of the pitch. While Antonio was often too fast and too strong for Modri to defend.
Even without a defensive approach, West Ham did not allow Dinamo Zagreb a shot on target all game, per WhoScored. Modri attempted eight efforts on Lukasz Fabianski’s net, yet sent five off-target and the Hammers’ blocked three. With Nikola Vlasic, Pablo Fornals and Rice getting their bodies in the way to ensure they began Group H with the ideal start.
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