Gianluca Scamacca scored his first West Ham goal as the Hammers began their latest European campaign with a 3-1 win over Danish club Viborg.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Italy striker Scamacca, David Moyes' marquee summer signing from Sassuolo, netted a first-half header on his full debut.
Jarrod Bowen added a second after the break and although Viborg pulled one back, Michail Antonio rounded things off with the third.
It gave the Hammers some breathing space ahead of the second leg of this qualifying play-off in Denmark next week as they bid to make the group stages of the Europa Conference League.
West Ham were without Declan Rice and Aaron Cresswell, as well as Moyes, with all banned for various indiscretions in the agonising Europa League semi-final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in May.
It had also been a tough build-up for Viborg for what was probably the biggest night in their history after two players, Nigerian winger Ibrahim Said and Gambia forward Alassana Jatta, were denied entry into the country due to visa rules post-Brexit.
Nevertheless, burly striker Jay-Roy Grot was proving a handful up front for the visitors, especially for stand-in Hammers skipper Angelo Ogbonna who was making his first appearance in nine months after a cruciate injury.
Hearts' bid to reach the group stages suffered a setback after Zurich came from behind to win 2-1 in their first leg play-off tie.
The Jambos - playing a first European tie in six years - took the lead in St Gallen through a 22nd-minute penalty from Lawrence Shankland.
Swiss champions Zurich, though, struck twice in the space of two minutes to turn the match around before the break.
Adrian Guerrero equalised with a volley in the 32 minute and Blerim Dzemaili swiftly added another following a counter-attack.
Hearts keeper Craig Gordon made an important save during the final minute when substitute Fabian Rohner went through on goal to leave the tie in the balance ahead of the return leg at Tynecastle, with the losing team set to drop into the Europa Conference League.
Shamrock Rovers look destined for that competition after they were beaten 4-0 away to Hungarian champions Ferencvaros, with Adama Traore scoring twice.
Australian Associated Press
