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Unbeaten West Ham stay top after Genk Europa League win

Unbeaten West Ham stay top after Genk Europa League win
West Ham United’s English defender Craig Dawson (left) celebrates with team mate Declan Rice after scoring the opening goal of their UEFA Europa League group H match against Genk at The London Stadium, in east London on October 21, 2021. Photo/AFP
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West Ham took control of Group H in the Europa League thanks to Thursday’s 3-0 home win over Genk.

Craig Dawson scored late in the first half before Issa Diop and Jarrod Bowen helped the Hammers to go six points clear.

“The main thing is topping the group. The home games are vitally important. We want to win away too,” Bowen told BT Sport.

“If we can stay strong, keep the confidence then I think teams will be fearing us.

We could be the team to look out for. We’re only a few games away from a big cup run,” he added.

Elsewhere in the group Rapid Vienna beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 to open their account in the competition.

Lyon have also made a perfect start to the European campaign and came from behind to edge Sparta Prague 4-2.

The French side, who finished the final quarter of an hour with 10 men after teenager Malo Gusto was sent off, trailed 2-0 early on.

Cameroon’s Karl Toko Ekambi with a double, France’s Houssem Aouar and Brazilian Lucas Paqueta then responded to claim the victory.

“The first 20 minutes were very difficult,” Haouar told RMC Sport.

“We have a lot of talent up-front, so we knew how to score after. It proves all the quality we have,” he added.

Serie A leaders Napoli secured their first European win of the season overcoming the previously unbeaten Legia Warsaw 3-0.

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen took his goal tally to nine for the campaign after Lorenzo Insigne had broken the deadlock for the Italians.

Italy midfielder Matteo Politano then rubbed salt into the Polish wounds with a third in added time.

Monaco remain top of Group B as 21-year-old midfielder Sofiane Diop claimed an 89th winner in the 2-1 success over PSV Eindhoven.

Austria’s Sturm Graz remain pointless after three rounds after Sweden’s Alexander Isak scored a second half winner in Real Sociedad’s 1-0 win.

Fenerbahce were denied a first win of the campaign as Pieter Gerkens scored with half an hour left to claim a 2-2 draw for Antwerp. -AFP

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