Djair Parfitt-Williams’ West Ham United survived an almighty scare against Birkirkara on Thursday evening, as West Ham prevailed 5-3 on penalties to book their place in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
West Ham fell behind in the 14th minute to a Fabrizio Miccoli goal from close range, before James Tomkins saw red in the half’s closing stages for an altercation with Nikola Vukanac.
Matias Mazzetti was dismissed in the second half of extra time for a second caution, but the hosts would cling onto their slender advantage to take the game to spot-kicks.
Ironically, it was Vukanac who missed the decisive spot-kick, skying his penalty woefully over the bar with West Ham 3-2 to the good, ultimately leaving Diego Poyet to roll home the Hammers’ fifth and secure Slaven Bilic’s men’s progress.
Any hopes that the return leg might prove a more straightforward affair than the first were well and truly banished within the first quarter of an hour here.
Parfitt-Williams was not in the 2nd leg team for West Ham United.
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