West Ham win Europa Conference League final ending title drought

People can live their whole life without watching their team win a title.

These long periods of waiting make shorter periods feel less crucial - what is the meaning of waiting five minutes while you spend a few decades without a real trophy.

This was the story for both sides heading into Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final, Fiorentina and West Ham.

Join @yossport1 LIVE outside 🏟 🇨🇿Eden Arena for a @europacnfleague final preview, less than an hour until kick off#UECLfinal pic.twitter.com/67Ier5pEFt
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) June 7, 2023

For the Violas from Florence, they have recent experience of a cup final, losing in the Coppa Italia final.

Besides that, Fiorentina haven't won a title for 22 years. Their last European trophy was in 1961, beating Rangers to clinch the Cup Winners' Cup.

West Ham’s last continental silverware was back in 1965, when they too won the Cup Winners' Cup.

Their most recent title was the 1980 FA Cup, and since then, they have rarely reached a final, let alone come close.

Both teams were, therefore, trying to rewrite history in Prague.

🚨MATCHDAY!
🏆 @europacnfleague final
🇮🇹Fiorentina🆚West Ham United🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
🏟️Eden Arena, Prague🇨🇿
🕑21:00 CET#UECLfinal pic.twitter.com/4sHpCGltyk
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) June 7, 2023

The tournament that was considered unnecessary for teams from the top leagues has became a real chance for silverware for West Ham and Fiorentina.

The teams that couldn't even dream about winning trophies were now 90 minutes away from it.

Besides their continuous failures, each team has its own past that they need to face up to.

For Fiorentina fans it was the long journey they had had from bankruptcy and relegation to Serie C almost 20 years ago.

There was another person that was mentioned as part of the team for the night, Davide Astori.

"Davide is in our hearts and thoughts," said captain Cristiano Biraghi before the match, "he is part of the team in these moments."

They were both a part of the Fiorentina squad when Astori unexpectedly died in April 2018.

Decollo ✈️
🔜 Prague#ForzaViola #Fiorentina #ACFFiorentina #UECLfinal pic.twitter.com/40e9iZSMsY
— ACF Fiorentina (@acffiorentina) June 6, 2023

On West Ham’s side, the fans had taken over the city, singing about blowing bubbles.

When they speak of their last European title in 1965, they mention club legends Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst, players who a year later would lead England to its only World Cup victory.

But so much has changed for the club since then. The Hammers are now more likely to be seen at the bottom end of the table than the top, and we’re even considered part of a relegation battle earlier this season.

Oi, big boy, what’s your name?! 🎶

We were honoured to welcome Luděk Mikloško to the Fan Meeting Point ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/3hQxJgXGuV
— West Ham United (@WestHam) June 7, 2023

Ignoring their past, West Ham and Fiorentina came to the Europa Conference League final not just thinking about a trophy - it’s the prestige, and ending this long drought.

On the night in Prague, there were nail biting waits for both sides.

The first half ended goalless, and as half time arrived it felt like a single moment could last forever.

The five minutes between the first two goals lasted an age too - after Said Benrahma put West Ham in the lead from the penalty spot, to Giacomo Bonaventura’s equaliser.

In the 20 minutes after that, however, it seemed nothing would change. Until the 90th minute that was.

West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen had scored the winner.

The five minutes of stoppage time took an age, but in the end there was euphoria for the London side, who took home the trophy with a 2-1 win.