West Ham made heavy weather of the opening match of their latest European adventure as they had to come from behind to beat Serbian minnows Backa Topola 3-1. Headers from £38million summer signing Mohammed Kudus and substitute Tomas Soucek, both from James Ward-Prowse corners, got the Hammers’ Europa League campaign off to a winning start on a stormy Stratford night. East London was hit by torrential rain before kick-off with water cascading through the roof onto the concourses at London Stadium. The floodgates failed to open on the pitch in the first half, however, despite West Ham being in the rare position of dominating possession on the soggy surface. The Hammers had 78 per cent possession, which was the exact opposite of their stats during the recent smash-and-grab win at Brighton. But boss David Moyes got a taste of his own medicine when Angelo Ogbonna’s mistake gifted TSC, making their debut in the group stages of a European competition, a shock lead after half-time. Until then it had been one-way traffic after Ward-Prowse had an early free-kick deflected inches over the crossbar. Danny Ings, making his first start of the season, saw his swerving effort punched away by Serbian keeper Nikola Simic, who also denied Thilo Kehrer after Aaron Cresswell’s low cross found him at the far post. Lucas Paqueta’s drive then forced another unorthodox save from Simic and when Pablo Fornals lifted the loose ball back into the box, Kudus planted his header over the top. But for all West Ham’s dominance there was still a hairy moment when a corner from Petar Stanic was flicked on by Sasa Jovanovic and bounced right across the six-yard box. The underdogs were enthusiastically cheered from the pitch at half-time by the 75-or-so Serbian fans who had made the 2,000km journey. And those away supporters were in dreamland two minutes into the second half after Ogbonna dawdled on the halfway line, allowing Stanic to nick the ball, race clear and fire past Lukasz Fabianski. But the Hammers, whose last European outing was their triumphant Europa Conference League final win over Fiorentina in June, hit back in the 66th minute, albeit in fortunate fashion as Said Benrahma’s cross was turned in at the far post by TSC defender Nemanja Petrovic. The lively Kudus did get his goal four minutes later and Soucek headed in the third from another Ward-Prowse delivery – giving the former Southampton midfielder a fifth assist of the season – to finally ease West Ham nerves. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Marcus Smith backed to shine at full-back as England tackle unfancied Chile Unai Emery urges Aston Villa to adapt quickly to demands of European football Jurgen Klopp plays down value of 50th European win after Liverpool beat LASK

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Oleksandr Zinchenko insists Ukraine will be preparing for the “game of their lives” when they face Italy next Monday in what could essentially be a play-off to qualify for Euro 2024. Against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict with Russia, the national football team have provided brief moments of enjoyment for embattled Ukrainians. Zinchenko will captain the team in the Group C fixture against Italy, held in Leverkusen as a “home” fixture for Ukraine – who have not played international football on their own soil in two years. If Italy beat North Macedonia on Friday night, the two nations will go into the final qualifier locked on 13 points behind England. Reigning European champions Italy will hold a slight advantage following a 2-1 win at San Siro last September and with head-to-head records counting over goal difference. But for Arsenal defender Zinchenko, the game means so much more to him and his compatriots. “It is going to be a massive game,” he said. We know that while we are wearing the Ukrainian shirt, it is absolutely the proudest moment of our lives Oleksandr Zinchenko “For sure it is going to be the game of our lives. Especially now, the toughest time since this country’s independence. To bring some positive news for Ukrainian people is so important. “To play in the Euros is an amazing achievement already and especially now. We know that while we are wearing the Ukrainian shirt, it is absolutely the proudest moment of our lives. “Since being a kid, you always dream of playing for the national team but especially now, with the war in our country, we understand completely that every single game, it doesn’t matter what one – even a friendly – when you win the game there are a lot of positives things for our people.” Zinchenko has been keen to use football as a driving force to shine a light on the tragedies in his homeland, raising money for the cause and speaking of the unity shared by all Ukrainians. He added: “Is it hard to be a player knowing what is going on? “Or is is hard for the people who are staying on the front line and giving their lives for our independence, for our people. So, which way is harder? That is the answer.”