Sports

West Ham need favour from Man United for Europa League spot

West Ham need favour from Man United for Europa League spot

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Stoke City's Bojan Krkic, top, jumps over West Ham United's Mark Noble during their English Premier League soccer match at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, England, Sunday, May 15, 2016. Photo: Tim Goode/PA via AP

STOKE: West Ham's impressive season ended disappointingly with a 2-1 loss at Stoke in the English Premier League on Sunday but the Hammers can still clinch a Europa League spot. West Ham dropped to seventh with 62 points and, to qualify for next season's Europa League, needs Manchester United to win the FA Cup on Saturday against Crystal Palace. Stoke finished ninth for the third successive season. West Ham went ahead at Britannia Stadium through Michail Antonio in the 23rd minute. But the visitors failed to convert chances, and Stoke came from behind thanks to Giannelli Imbula's 55th-minute strike and a header two minutes from time from substitute Mame Diouf. For Stoke, it was a first win in seven matches.