The smooth moving The Hammers were in control right from the start and had a chance to take the lead after five minutes when Paqueta struck a shot off the crossbar following a clever Kudus cross.
The Bundesliga team, making their first appearance in England, was put on the back foot from the start. Although there wasn’t much action in the first fourteen minutes, Kudus was once again the standout player, making a cunning run to beat the offside trap and score after Alvaraz sent a lovely ball forward.
The two former Ajax players are familiar with one another’s styles of play, and Kudus’ seventh goal in claret and blue was the result of a skillfully performed assist.
The Hammers believed they may have doubled the score six minutes later, but Bowen’s sardonic smile showed that he was just barely offside.
The only reply from the German side came from a low shot that Fabianski easily stopped before Soucek lifted a ball from a Coufal throw-in over the top.
However, a second goal was imminent; this time, Alvarez scored his first goal for the Irons after receiving a pass from Paqueta and strode forward to find the net and fire past the goalie with ease.
