Declan Rice scores SUBLIME solo goal in West Ham’s 4-1 win over Gent

Declan Rice scored a wonderful solo goal on Thursday as West Ham beat Gent 4-1 in the second leg of their Europa Conference League quarter final.

After initially winning the ball from a Gent attack, he played a nice one-two with Lucas Paqueta and receives the ball still well within his own half.

The 24-year-old then surged down the right in a brilliant run, taking four defenders out of the game before slotting coolly past the keeper from the right of the box.

Rice’s goal put the Hammers into cruise control, which could have gone very differently when Hugo Cuypers gave Gent an early lead.

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg West Ham were headed out of the tournament, but Michail Antonio levelled the game up before Paqueta added another from the penalty spot just after the break.

Declan Rice scored a wonder goal for West Ham on Thursday as they beat Gent 4-1

The win sent the Hammers into the Europa Conference League semi finals after a 1-1 draw in the first leg

Antonio scored another after Rice’s wondergoal, putting David Moyes’ side 4-1 up on the night and 5-2 leaders on aggregate, as they marched comfortably into the semis.

European football has been a welcome break from occasionally dire league form this season, and the Hammers had won all eight of their games in the competition before their first leg draw.

If they can go on to win the trophy, it would be their first European honour of the 21st century.

The East London side have also given themselves some breathing room in the league, as they now sit four points above the drop zone with eight games left to play.

 They will next be in action against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.