West Ham 1

Release time：2024-04-20 08:47:46 Source：Planet Pulse news portal

Thre have been a collection of memorable and special moments during David Moyes’ European run with West Ham.

When Michail Antonio put his side 1-0 ahead in the 13th minute, it appeared that another may be on the cards. But Bayer Leverkusen did what they have done all season. They are the masters of late goals and as West Ham tired, the German champions pounced – with Jeremie Frimpong equalising at the death.

There is a reason Xabi Alonso’s side are now 44 games unbeaten this season - the longest ever run in the top five European leagues. It is a phenomenal achievement and they are surely the favourites to win this competition.

There will be what ifs that linger in the following days for Moyes. What if Lucas Paqueta had not been suspended for last night’s game after an unnecessary yellow card in the first leg. What if Jarrod Bowen’s volley had gone in just before half-time? What if West Ham had seen out a 1-0 defeat in the first leg instead of conceding a second goal in added time?

‘If I was going to go out of Europe I wanted to go out playing like that,’ Moyes said. ‘It was a terrific performance against a good side.

West Ham crashed out of the Europe after losing 3-1 on aggregate against Bayer Leverkusen

Tensions were high during the match as both sets of players clashed during the fiery 1-1 draw

Michail Antonio struck early with a well-taken header to inspire hope of a West Ham comeback

Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso made a series of important substitutions midway through the second half and kept his club's chances of an astonishing undefeated Treble very much alive

‘I thought tonight we had the chance to go two or three-nil up at one point. We missed those opportunities which were really important. I couldn’t fault the players at all. I thought they were fantastic, their attitude, their effort.

West Ham (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 7, Coufal 7 (Johnson 84), Zouma 7, Aguerd 6 (Ogbonna 45+2, 6) , Cresswell 6.5, Alvarez 7 (Cornet 84), Soucek 6.5, Bowen 7, Ward-Prowse 6.5, Kudus 6.5, Antonio 7

Subs not used: Anang, Knightsbridge, Ings, Casey, Mubama, Swyer, Orford

Booked: Antonio, Bowen, Zouma, Coufal, Soucek

Goals: Antonio 13

Manager: David Moyes

Bayer Leverkusen (4-2-3-1): Kovar, Stanisic, Kossounou (Tapsoba 29), Tah, Hincapie, Xhaka, Palacios, Tella (Frimpong 45), Wirtz, Grimaldo, Schick (Boniface 45)

Subs not used: Hradecky, Lomb, Hofmann, Andrich, Arthur, Adli, Puerta, Izekor

Booked: Kossounou, Tah, Palacios

Goals: Jeremie Frimpong 89

Manager: Xabi Alonso

Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez

‘Three years in Europe has been fabulous and I’m hoping that there is still a chance we can make it four.’

Moyes knew his team would have to be more attacking from the start and he could not have asked for a better atmosphere from his supporters - who had been given a huge boost by the news that Bowen, who had missed the first leg through injury, was fit enough to start. 

It did not take their top scorer long to produce some magic to get his side back into the tie.

The forward picked up the ball midway in the Leverkusen half and played a one-two with Vladimir Coufal before curling a cross into the box. 

The delivery was inch perfect for Antonio, who managed to get in between Odilon Kossounou and Matej Kovar to head into the back of the net.

Bowen then came incredibly close to levelling the tie as he connected with Mohammed Kudus’ cross at the back-post, but his volley was saved by the feet of Kovar.

Alonso was visibly frustrated on the sideline and by the 30 minute mark he had seen enough as Kossonou was hooked for Edmond Tapsoba.

There was then altercation on both the touchline and the pitch as Billy McKinlay and Sebastian Parrilla were sent off for a confrontation, before Antonio and Jonathan Tah squared up to each other minutes later.

Alonso made two further subs at half-time, with Victor Boniface and Frimpong coming on in place of Patrik Schick and Nathan Tella.

Jeremie Frimpong netted shortly before stoppage time to seal victory for Bayer Leverkusen

Billy McKinlay (left) was sent off after furiously clashing with Bayer Leverkusen coaching staff

West Ham and Bayer Leverkusen's players brawled on the pitch shortly after McKinlay's red

The changes worked, with Leverkusen much better in possession and in defence. The only real chance for West Ham fell to Bowen, who was caught in two minds whether to shoot or cross and in the end did neither.

Leverkusen have made late goals a habit and in the 88th minute, Frimpong added another to their season’s collection. The midfielder found space in the box and his deflected shot bounced past Lukasz Fabianski. 

Applause rang around the London Stadium. Disappointment was in the air, but the overwhelming feeling was one of pride. To reach the latter stages of European tournaments three years in a row is no mean feat. It may be some time before they manage that again.

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