West Ham United capped the opening game of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in style by reaching the next round of the Europa League with a 3-0 win over NK Domzale.

The Hammers dominated from the start, with Cheikhou Kouyate giving them the lead after seven minutes. Chances from Zan Majer and Andy Carroll followed before Kouyate added a second before the break.

The second half failed to have the same intensity, with Matic Crnic and Zeni Hismani having the only real opportunities before Feghouli rounded off the scoring.

Above: Cheikho Kouyate celebrating one of his two goals in West Ham's 3-0 win over NK Domzale | Photo: Kevin Quigley
Above: Cheikho Kouyate celebrating one of his two goals in West Ham's 3-0 win over NK Domzale | Photo: Kevin Quigley

Perfect opening for the Stadium

​Hammers fans were out in force as they welcomed the side to their new stadium in Stratford. Slaven Bilic's side will have hoped that Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park's curtain raiser was in different circumstances, having been beaten in the first leg, but got off to a flying start in their new surroundings.

Enner Valencia was put through down the left-hand side, who cut it back to full-back Sam Byram. The former Leeds man did fluff his lines with his attempt on goal, luckily Kouyate was on hands to stab home from close-range.

The visitors almost grabbed an equaliser in the 15th minute, Majer found some space and looked to punish the Hammers for their loose defending, similar to what they did in the Stožice Stadium. Majer let rip from 20 yards but it sailed over Darren Randolph's crossbar.

Above: Cheikho Kouyate stabbing home one of his two goals in West Ham's 3-0 win over NK Domzale | Photo: Kevin Quigley
Above: Cheikho Kouyate stabbing home one of his two goals in West Ham's 3-0 win over NK Domzale | Photo: Kevin Quigley

Doubling their lead

Despite that slight scare, the Hammers were in the driving seat as they looked for their second goal, and kill off the tie.

Feghouli did brilliantly on the wing as he produced a dangerous cross that Hammers fans were coming accustomed to, but Andy Carroll's attempt at a scissor kick was blocked.

Kouyate added his, and West Ham's second just before the half-hour mark. Carroll plays a hopeful out onto the wing, which is picked up by Valencia. Carroll was on hand to get on the end of Valencia's ball into the area, his header down falls perfectly for Kouyate to stab it into the net.

Falling flat

​The flow of what had been an exciting encounter came crashing down in the second period, with Domzale been reduced to half-chances.

The first came 20 minutes from the end, as the hero from the first-leg Crnic, was looking to get his side back in the game.

The Hammers didn't seem to learn from the first-leg as he was allowed time and space on the ball, but Randolph did well to be alert to push the ball away.

The Slovenians got desperate as they tried from some distance, it was the turn of substitute Husmani as he tried from 30 yards, but Randolph collected well.  

Above: Sofiane Feghouli celebrating his goal in West Ham's 3-0 win over NK Domzale | Photo; Kevin Quigley
Above: Sofiane Feghouli celebrating his goal in West Ham's 3-0 win over NK Domzale | Photo; Kevin Quigley

Passage is sealed

​Despite hardly been in the second period, West Ham secured their passage into the fourth round of Europa League qualifying with their third and final goal.

Mark Noble produced an excellent ball over-the-top to Feghouli, and the winger did brilliantly to take the ball down on his chest before firing home.

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About the author
Danial  Kennedy
Award-winning sports journalism graduate. Currently studying a PR Masters at the University of Sunderland. Writing for VAVEL since August 2014. Twitter - @ddkjournalism.