A nervy West Ham made it two wins out of two in the Europa Conference League as Gianluca Scamacca's stunner helped them come from behind to beat Silkeborg 3-2 in Denmark.

After trailing Romanian side FCSB in their opening game last Thursday, West Ham had to dig deep again but Scamacca's thumping effort, along with Manuel Lanzini's penalty and Craig Dawson's header, ensured they avoided a potential upset on an artificial pitch at JYSK Park.

Silkeborg had taken a fifth-minute lead through Kasper Kusk's brilliant first-time strike but the Hammers hit back eight minutes later when Lanzini converted his spot-kick after Maxwel Cornet had been pushed over in the box.

Scamacca, who scored two goals in qualifying against Silkeborg's domestic opponents Viborg, then empathically put the Hammers ahead in the 25th minute before a Nicklas Helenius goal was ruled out for a dubious foul on West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

Thirteen minutes later, Aaron Cresswell and Dawson - both back in the starting line-up following injuries - combined from a corner to score what proved to be the match-winning goal.

With West Ham cruising, David Moyes introduced Jarrod Bowen in the second half, but a mistake from the England international saw Silkeborg surge forward before Soren Tengstedt smashed the ball past Areola to give the hosts a lifeline in the 75th minute.

With the Hammers holding on, Areola then produced a fine save moments later to deny substitute Tonni Adamsen a memorable equaliser and ensure Silkeborg's wait for their first point in the group stage of a European competition continues.

The result means West Ham top Group B after matchday two. Silkeborg are bottom after Anderlecht and FCSB drew 0-0 in Romania.

Cristiano Ronaldo ended his barren spell with the first Europa League goal of his career as Manchester United earned victory at Sheriff Tiraspol.

Erik ten Hag's men suffered defeat at Old Trafford in their Group E opener against Real Sociedad but responded by claiming all three points in Moldova.

The Red Devils opened the scoring in the first half as a lovely team move was coolly finished off by Jadon Sancho from Christian Eriksen's reverse pass.

Sancho, who was left out of the England squad earlier in the day, came close to a second but his low shot was brilliantly cleared off the line by Sheriff captain Stjepan Radeljic on the stretch.

But United did double their advantage before half-time courtesy of Ronaldo's penalty, awarded after Patrick Kpozo tripped Diogo Dalot in the box.

Ronaldo could have taken his tally to 700 club goals but side-footed over from the edge of the area while at the other end, Sheriff could not force David de Gea into any meaningful saves.

In the group's other game, Real Sociedad made it two wins from two with a 2-1 victory over Neil Lennon's Omonia Nicosia.

African Youth Champion and bronze medallist at the 2022 ITTF African Senior Championships, Taiwo Mati, has gained 64 steps up the ladder of the latest ITTF ranking as Nigeria’s second-best rated player in the world.

His compatriot and current African champion Quadri Aruna maintained his grip on the top echelon of the continental ranking after moving to 14^th  in the world.

The 17-year-old  Mati who made the three-man contingent to Algiers for the ITTF African Senior Championships, stunned three-time African champion Ahmed Saleh of Egypt with a 4-3 win in the quarterfinal to make it to the semifinal of the men’s singles in Algiers, where he eventually lost to Aruna has been rated 91^st  in the ranking being his highest career ranking.

In the ranking released yesterday by the world table tennis ruling body, Mati is now the sixth best African player in the world behind the likes of Aruna, Omar Assar of Egypt (22), Saleh of Egypt (66), Ibrahima Diaw of Senegal (72), Mehdi Bouloussa of Algeria (86) and Mati (91).

Mati is now the second-best rated Nigerian in the world following his performance in Algiers.

CAF Champions League campaigner, Rivers United and CAF Confederation Cup flagbearer, Kwara United  would expectedly travel to Monrovia and Niamey respectively  by tomorrow ahead of this weekend’s return leg of their preliminary round toes with FC Watanga (Liberia) and AS Douanes of Niger Republic.

Both teams won the first leg games played in Lagos and Port Harcourt respectively with an identical 3-0 margin ahead of the second leg games slated for Sunday.

A source close to Rivers United  informed that the club would begin their journey with a trip to Lagos  today before connecting  to Monrovia tomorrow to face the Liberian side  that  the first leg by the three goals conceded in the first half at the Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

 Watanga will  be  under pressure to overturn the goals deficit when the game starts by 5pm Nigerian time on Sunday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia.

Similarly, Kwara United who are representing the nation in the CAF Confederation Cup, are also expected to depart the shores of the country tomorrow country ahead of their Sunday’s  second leg tie against AS Douanes  billed for the Stade Général Seyni Kountché in Niamey