As a staunchly traditional Scottish manager, David Moyes has never been one to wear his emotions on his sleeve. However, as the sound of the final whistle reverberated through the stadium, he found it impossible to conceal his exhilaration. 

Indeed, Moyes found himself with an abundance of reasons to bask in pride following his team's expedition to the Europa-Park Stadion on Thursday night. 

Not only did his formidable West Ham United side valiantly engage in a grueling battle, emerging triumphant with a well-deserved 2-1 victory over SC Freiburg on foreign turf, but they also ascended to the summit of Europa League Group A after merely two encounters. 

In accomplishing this remarkable feat, the Hammers set a new record that will be forever etched in the memories of enthusiasts.

By evading defeat against Freiburg, West Ham have now extended their unbeaten streak to an impressive 17 matches in European fixtures, surpassing the record previously held by English powerhouses such as Don Revie's Leeds in 1968, Bill Nicholson's Tottenham Hotspur in 1972, and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in 2023.  

For Moyes, the mere inclusion in such a discourse brought forth a sense of delight, and the distinction of claiming this record was achieved through an exceptionally impressive display by his marvelous team. 

"I got told about the record yesterday and I was quite thrilled to even be level with the managers who were in question, and I have to say I was delighted with getting the win," observed Moyes. 

"The record is always really good to get, but more important was winning tonight, and getting those three points is so good, particularly when many would consider this the hardest game in the group." 

West Ham restricted Freiburg to a meager solitary shot on target before the interval, a feeble attempt effortlessly gathered by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. It came as no surprise, then, that Lucas Paqueta soared above the rest, propelling the Hammers forward with a meticulously timed header, courtesy of a well-executed cross delivered by Jarrod Bowen. 

Freiburg struggled to withstand the relentless pressure exerted by West Ham, but they managed to stay within striking distance, courtesy of the visitors' slender advantage. However, the tides of the game shifted dramatically when Sallai unleashed a powerful strike, securing the equalizer beyond the reach of Fabianski.  

Furthermore, Lucas Holer squandered a golden opportunity to thrust Freiburg into the lead, inexplicably blazing the ball over the crossbar. Hence, West Ham breathed a collective sigh of relief as Noah Atubolu's poor positioning paved the way for Nayef Aguerd to capitalize on James Ward-Prowse's corner, thereby reinstating the Hammers' lead.  

Then Jarrod Bowen, despite the opportunity to mark his return to the national team with a sixth goal of the season, unfortunately erred, firing wide. Nonetheless, West Ham had done more than sufficient to claim the top spot in their group, amassing six points from their first two outings.

This current stretch of success marks a rare and exceptional phase for Moyes, a manager who continues to defy the skeptics who claim his methods have become obsolete. With the triumph in the Europa Conference League last season and now the establishment of an unbeaten record this term, the Scottish tactician can confidently dismiss any concerns regarding his style of play.  

In the meantime, West Ham's astute recruitment has enabled them to transform the departure of their prized asset, Declan Rice, into a favorable outcome. Moyes has encountered a comparable situation before when Everton parted ways with Wayne Rooney back in 2004. 

By utilizing the funds acquired from the Rice transfer judiciously, West Ham has achieved a heightened equilibrium, as exemplified by their triumph on Thursday. This prudent financial maneuvering has undoubtedly bolstered the club's overall strength and stability. 

The doubters have been silenced, and Moyes can revel in the reassurance that his approach has yielded fruitful results.