MOYES’ WINNING RUN KEPT IN CEK

2 WEST HAM 2 EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP H Late Soucek own goal spoils his manager’s 1000th game

GENK NOT much of a Moyes Millennium celebration in Smurfland as Tomas Soucek’s late howler dented West Ham’s Europa League winning run.

A second-half fightback leading to two fine Said Benrahma goals looked to have ensured the Hammers would celebrate manager David Moyes’ 1000th game in the dugout with a win.

But Soucek headed Angelo Preciado’s cross into his own net three minutes from time.

West Ham, who had won their three previous Group H games, have now all but qualified for the knockout stages.

But they nearly paid dearly for a shaky defensive performance against a Genk side whose nickname is the Smurfs, but who were no comic cartoon outfit. Moyes said: “We knew somewhere along the line it would be a bumpy road. It was an own goal but a draw might have been the right result.

“We probably should have created more opportunities.

“I haven’t quite taken in that it is 1000 games. I’m still thinking about that last minute. But I’ll pick myself up.” A sleepy Hammers were behind after four minutes, when Issa Diop should have cut out Junya Ito’s ball, but Joseph Paintsil nipped in, and though Alphonse Areola got his fingers to the ball, it bounced in off the inside of the post.

Moyes’ men were rocking, as Bryan Heynen saw his header tipped on to the bar by Areola and the Hammers keeper saved his side again when he kept out Ebre Onuachu’s header.

Onuachu headed over when he should have done better and Ito wasted a glorious opportunity when he shot wide.

West Ham’s first dangerous moment came when Craig Dawson’s header saw Maarten Vandervoordt tip the ball over but twice Areola had to fist away Paintsil’s drives.

The Hammers at last began to find some rhythm and Manuel Lanzini was only foiled by a brilliant save from Vandervoordt.

When Michail Antonio’s shot beat the keeper, Declan Rice seemed certain to score, but Patrik Hrosovsky incredibly managed to hack the ball off the line.

Mark Noble, born a year earlier than when Genk were formed in 1988, was showing his age in midfield and Moyes brought on Jarrod Bowen, Soucek and Pablo Fornals and the impact was instant, as Vladimir Coufal crossed and Benrahma slotted home.

Coufal should have given West Ham the lead when he shot wide from 10 yards but Benrahma struck again, skilfully beating his man to drill his shot home.

But Soucek nodded Preciado’s cross into his own net.

He probably got a thousand yard stare from his boss.