West Ham hit five to knock out Freiburg; Milan coast through

West Ham United's Aaron Cresswell (R) celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game with teammate Jarrod Bowen during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between West Ham United and SC Freiburg at the London Stadium. Nigel French/PA Wire/dpa

Conference League champions West Ham United roared into the Europa League quarter-finals after thumping Germany's Freiburg 5-0, with AC Milan, Marseille and Benfica also progressing on Thursday.

The Londoners have proved themselves to be a major European force in recent years, having also reached the Europa League semi-finals two seasons ago.

Freiburg, hoping to reach the last eight of European competition for the first time, won last week's first leg 1-0 at home but Lucas Paquetá brought West Ham level after just 9 minutes when he powered in from close range.

Forward Jarrod Bowen then celebrated his latest England call-up with a superb goal just after the half hour at the London Stadium before Aaron Cresswell and a Mohammed Kudus double sealed a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Milan flew into the last eight of a competition they have never won with a 3-1 win at 10-man Slavia Prague, giving the Rossoneri a 7-3 aggregate success.

US winger Christian Pulisic and English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek netted within two minutes of each other in the first half as the Czechs paid a heavy price for Tomáš Holeš being sent off after just 20 minutes for a dangerous foul.

Rafael Leão made it three on half-time before Matěj Jurásek's consolation.

Villarreal won 3-1 but it was not enough to overturn Marseille's 4-0 victory from last week as the French side edged through in Spain.

Benfica knocked out Rangers 3-2 on aggregate after a 1-0 win in Glasgow thanks to Rafa Silva's 66th-minute goal.

Four second legs are taking place later, including Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen hosting Azerbaijan's Qarabag with their tie at 2-2.

West Ham United's Mohammed Kudus scores their side's fourth goal of the game during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between West Ham United and SC Freiburg at the London Stadium. Nigel French/PA Wire/dpa
West Ham United's Aaron Cresswell celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between West Ham United and SC Freiburg at the London Stadium. Nigel French/PA Wire/dpa
West Ham United's Aaron Cresswell (C) celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between West Ham United and SC Freiburg at the London Stadium. Nigel French/PA Wire/dpa
Referee Ivan Kruzliak speaks with Rangers' Cyriel Dessers during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between Rangers and Benfica at the Ibrox Stadium. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/dpa
Rangers' Cyriel Dessers has an attempt on goal during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between Rangers and Benfica at the Ibrox Stadium. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/dpa
Benfica players huddle ahead of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between Rangers and Benfica at the Ibrox Stadium. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/dpa
Benfica's Antonio Silva holds off Rangers' Cyriel Dessers as Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin collects the ball during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, second leg soccer match between Rangers and Benfica at the Ibrox Stadium. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/dpa

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