RAPID-FIRE RICE A HERO
Hammers hail Declan strike before Benrahma seals victory
PETROL may be short supply, but matchwinner Declan Rice remains West Ham’s Rolls-Royce with plenty in the tank.
How else to explain yet another all-action, lung-busting display in which the England star tightened his side’s grip on their Europa League group.
In the week with the new James Bond film rivalling the Hammers as the hottest ticket in town, Rapid Vienna’s stars will have nightmares about the Spectre of Rice, given a licence to thrill here at the London Stadium.
Nights like these were the stuff of fantasy for the West Ham hierarchy when they took the controversial decision to quit Upton
Park five years ago.
Rice, though, is the jewel in the crown of an impressive squad of grafters, put together by David Moyes, that few teams will want to face in the knockout stages.
Seven changes from the line-up that left it late to see off Leeds last weekend were made by the Irons boss. Moyes was still able to enjoy his men dominating the team 11th in the Austrian League.
Yes, Rapid may be winless in their last five and yes, the optimism of their seven wins from 12 games in all competitions has all but evaporated.
But West Ham took nothing for granted with a professional job, capped by quality finishing.
From the outset, Rice swept around the pitch, dispossessing Rapid players and providing a springboard for the Hammers’ attacks.
He would have scored far earlier than he did had he not hit the post with a towering header from Aaron Cresswell’s free-kick, seven minutes in.
West Ham hit the other post 20 minutes later, and again with Cresswell loading the ammunition from a corner.
Craig Dawson arrived late at the back post, but crashed his header against the upright with Issa Diop prodding the ball wide.
Rapid were bending under pressure, however. Two minutes later they broke.
Michail Antonio chested the ball down on the left of the six-yard box, drew the keeper then slid the ball across the box for the onrushing
Declan Rice to tap in unchallenged.
Rapid almost grabbed an undeserved point when German referee Tobias Stieler pointed to the spot with 20 minutes left.
He believed Ben Johnson had brought down substitute Marco Grull. But VAR showed Johnson had not even touched him.
Home substitute Jarrod Bowen should then have rubber-stamped it with 10 minutes remaining after rounding Rapid keeper Paul Gartler, but he blazed over the bar.
Said Benrahma (above right) showed him how it was done, deep into injury time when he caressed the ball into the bottom corner.
Man of the match, though, was Rice.
Two European games and two goals for the midfielder.