West Ham 2-0 Freiburg: Kudus & Alvarez strike to seal top spot for Hammers
West Ham sealed their place in the Europa League last 16 - avoiding a play-off against a side dropping down from the Champions League - with a confident win over Freiburg.
Knowing a draw would be enough to clinch top spot in Group A, the Hammers led when Mohammed Kudus controlled Edson Alvarez's pinpoint pass on his chest before coolly slotting in.
A solid start was further rewarded when Mexico midfielder Alvarez doubled the lead three minutes before half-time with a smart finish after a driving run.
It was his first West Ham goal since his summer move from Ajax.
From that point on the Premier League side remained in total command and maintained their intensity in an assured performance.
Freiburg, who are eighth in the German Bundesliga, offered little threat in response.
The visitors slightly improved in the final half hour, with Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski saving a curling shot from Ritsu Doan, but the defeat meant they finished second in the group behind the Hammers.
West Ham XI: Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Bowen, Aguerd, Mavropanos, Paqueta, Alvarez, Mohammed Kudus
Subs: Ogbonna, Cresswell, Areola, Ings, Zouma, Cornet, Kehrer, Saïd Benrahma, Fornals, Ben Johnson, Coventry, Divin Mubama
Freiburg XI: Höfler, M. Gulde, Gregoritsch, Ginter, V. Grifo, Eggestein, Roland Sallai, Ritsu Doan, Noah Atubolu, Kiliann Sildillia, Jordy Makengo
Subs: Kübler, Lucas Höler, Florian Müller, Fabian Rüdlin, Junior Adamu, Noah Weißhaupt, Merlin Röhl, Mika Baur, Jaaso Jantunen
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