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Bowen pleased with double as West Han defeat AEK Larnaca

Jarrod Bowen became West Ham's leading European goalscorer as David Moyes' side easily beat Cypriot side AEK Larnaca to reach the last eight of the Europa Conference League.

Bowen struck twice in as many minutes at the beginning of the second half to take his overall tally to eight across two European campaigns.

The victory equalled West Ham's biggest in Europe as, for the second season running, they reached the quarter-finals of a European competition.

However, this success was far removed from the memorable and nail-biting extra-time triumph over Sevilla in the last-16 of last season's Europa League.

Two down from the first-leg, Larnaca were outclassed at the London Stadium as the Hammers strolled to victory.

The Cypriots gifted the opening goal to Gianluca Scamacca and then had Gustavo Ledes sent off just before the break for a poor challenge on Pablo Fornals that was upgraded from a yellow card to red following a video assistant referee intervention.

Bowen took the home side further clear. His second in particular was impressive as he looped a header from Aaron Creswell's cross over the Larnaca keeper and into the corner.

West Ham's victory was rounded off by 18-year-old local boy Divin Mubama, who has been with the club since he was eight and scored his first senior goal on only his third first-team appearance.

Bowen said afterwards: "You always have to be on guard and 2-0 [after the first leg] is difficult as you know they would come here and go for it.

"If you then concede the first goal you are then on the back foot. Getting the first goal helped us then in the second half to put the game to bed, it was a proper performance."

On being left out of the England squad, he added: "It's one of those things. These things take care of themselves. I've done nothing to get in there.

"It's not about getting in squads, it's about playing my 'A' game, finish strongly and go again next season. I always want to score and goals have not been coming this season, but I accept that. I will always give my all for the club.

"Now we have a week without playing a game and now it's the business end of the season. It [the Premier League position] is a position we don't want to be in, but we are in it so have to hit the ground running."

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