Palermo - 3 West Ham - 0: As Palermo chanted a doleful reprise of the Godfather theme tune, West Ham's Uefa Cup campaign was extinguished last night. It will no doubt be to the relief of police authorities across Europe.
Numerous arrests preceded the match; and with some English clubs' involvement in tiresome brawling seemingly inevitable during European trips it is difficult to regret West Ham's early exit from the competition.
Palermo fans had been angered by T-shirts worn in the first leg at Upton Park mocking the town's historical mafia links.
Some 500 fans gathered last night, many throwing bottles and chairs before police stepped in to break up what the Carabinieri described as "a huge battle".
West Ham knew their task required intense application and Lee Bowyer typified that in engineering the first chance of an end-to-end match.
Fabio Henrique Simplicio, earlier thwarted from a long-distance shot, was given his second such chance from a free-kick played short. His weak shot trickled past the unsighted Carroll, doubling Palermo's lead in the tie.
Shortly after half-time Mark Bresciano drew another good save from Carroll but Carlton Cole had more cause to berate his own failure to find the net when heading Spector's cross from deep against a post.
Injured in the move, Cole's participation was ended. Two minutes later West Ham's participation in this tournament went the same way. Di Michele pulled Gabbidon out of position and hoisted a cross into the path of Simplicio, with Carroll advancing off his line only enough to strand himself, the Ghanaian's lob produced his second goal of the night.
West Ham's devastation was complete when Eugenio Corini played a sublimely weighted long pass for Di Michele. The West Ham defence walked forward as one, opening the gate for the Italy international, who scored at Carroll's near post.
There was no shame in this young side succumbing here; that instead lay with the supporters. b Guardian Service
PALERMO: Fontana, Cassani, Zaccardo, Barzagli, Pisano, Diana (Dellafiore 89), Corini (Guana 78), Simplicio, Di Michele (Brienza 85), Bresciano, Caracciolo. Subs Not Used: Agliardi, Tedesco, Parravicini, Capuano. Booked: Barzagli, Corini, Cassani. Goals: Simplicio 35, 62, Di Michele 68.
WEST HAM: Carroll, Spector, Collins, Gabbidon, Konchesky, Reo-Coker, Bowyer, Mascherano (Benayoun 68), Harewood (Sheringham 68), Tevez, Cole (Zamora 60). Subs Not Used: Green, Etherington, Mullins, Ephraim. Booked: Cole, Carroll.
Referee: Georgios Kasnaferis (Greece)
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