West Ham were taught a lesson in European football by Palermo after a 3-0 drubbing in Sicily on Thursday ended their UEFA Cup dream. Fabio Simplicio scored two with David Di Michele finishing off the East Londoners who looked out of their depth in Italy.

Argentine duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano were once again ineffectual for West Ham, adding to the speculation that they are round pegs for square holes at West Ham, Teddy Sheringham and Yossi Benayoun left on the bench to accommodate them and far more impressive coming into the game as late subs.

West Ham actually started promisingly enough, a lively-looking Tevez forcing a save from Fontana in the Palermo goal while creating opportunities for Paul Konchesky and Marlon Harewood.

But Palermo - already leading 1-0 from the first leg at the Boleyn Ground - were sitting back and looking for the counter, Brazilian Simplicio firing a warning shot in the 17th minute after Konchesky failed to close-off Aimo Diana.

The Rosanero were soon all over West Ham, David Di Michele put clean through but Roy Carroll bravely and expertly diving at his feet to save his wooden defenders.

But it was a defensive error from the giddy-looking Konchesky that undid West Ham, giving the ball away just before Simpliciop fired a low drive past a late-diving Carroll.

DEFENSIVE SHOCKER

West Ham were shell-shocked and while attempting to push forward left Anton Ferdinand-sized holes at the back which Di Michele exploited, only for referee Georgios Kasnaferis to incorrectly haul him up for offside, much to the righteous indignation of coach Francesco Guidolin - Di Michele's run had started inside his own half and anyway he had been played on by a sluggish Hammers defence.

The second half continued in the same pattern, Palermo picking West Ham off at will, although it was another error that gifted the Sicilians the tie.

The normally excellent Danny Gabbidon was caught in possession near his own area, Simplicio lapping up the loose ball to race past Mascherano before sending a low shot into the bottom right.

West Ham pressed but the hosts made it three when Di Michele finally got his goal, latching onto a long ball and slotting home past Carroll to send the home crowd wild.

The late introductions of Sheringham and Benayoun livened things up for the Hammers - who had Carlton Cole stretchered off in the second half - but the night was typified by Konchesky losing possession to allow Di Michele a shot across goal, mercifully wide for the travelling support.

(Eurosport)

Italian

Il Palermo batte 3-0 il West Ham e si qualifica per la fase a gironi di coppa Uefa. Il capitombolo di Empoli è già dimenticato. La fortuna stasera ha dato una discreta mano ai rosanero, salvati in più occasioni nel primo tempo da un superlativo Fontana. Ma la squadra di Guidolin ha saputo soffrire senza mai perdere la testa, facendo poi la differenza con la classe cristallina di Di Michele e soprattutto con Simplicio, decisivo con una doppietta. Il brasiliano è la chiave del gioco rosanero, prezioso in copertura, lucido in regia ed eccellente nelle conclusioni, sia dalla distanza che finalizzando gli inserimenti da dietro. E' una vittoria di prestigio, contro una squadra di ottima caratura, pur in un cattivo momento, testimoniato dai 40 giorni senza vittorie. Il Palermo merita di essere considerato tra le favorite di questa edizione di coppa Uefa: è squadra compatta e completa in ogni reparto.

(Gazzetta)