West Ham’s hopes of an epic European comeback came up just short as Bayer Leverkusen battled through to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday night.
Trailing 2-0 on aggregate after last week’s first-leg defeat in Germany, the Hammers gave themselves hope of a remarkable turnaround when Michail Antonio headed in from Jarrod Bowen’s cross inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour.
The hosts produced a defiant show and threatened a leveller before Jeremie Frimpong’s late clincher ultimately sealed the deal for the Germans and preserved their 44-match unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw.
Here’s how David Moyes’s side rated at the London Stadium...
Lukasz Fabiański 6
Alert to deny Tella from long range but otherwise untested in the first-half. No chance with Frimpong’s deflected strike.
Vladimir Coufal 7
Leverkusen’s left-flank had been a big source of joy in the first-leg but not here. Booked for dissent.
Kurt Zouma 7
Commanding stuff from the captain, who picked his moments to step in wisely. Kept Schick quiet and then dealt with a very different threat in Boniface after the break. Booked for dissent.
Nayef Aguerd 6
Could not have guessed how little defending he would have to do as West Ham dominated first-half. Limped off just before half-time with ankle problem.
Aaron Cresswell 6
You worried he might be exposed at left-back but did a grand job, including crucial clearance to deny Frimpiong tap-in clincher.
Tomas Soucek 7
A solid display from the Czech, though West Ham could have done with someone with a little more craft on the odd occasion he picked up the ball in the final third.
Edson Alvarez 8
How he was missed when suspended in Germany. Read the game superbly to allow team-mates to go hell-for-leather in the press.
James Ward-Prowse 7
A cracking shift, pushed higher up the pitch to co-ordinate West Ham’s press, which was so effective early on.
Jarrod Bowen 8
Fit enough to start and made the opening goal with a terrific delivery. So close to a second soon after but denied on the volley. Booked for dissent.
Jarrod Bowen comes so close to levelling the tie for West Ham but for the foot of Matěj Kovár...
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Michail Antonio 8
Scored the opener with a strong header and bullied Kossounou to the extent the centre-back was dragged inside half-an-hour. Hugely frustrated in second-half when Tapsoba fouls went unpunished. Booked.
Mohammed Kudus 8
Leverkusen could not lay a glove on him as he led the drive through midfield and from out wide. Fine cross made Bowen chance.
Substitutes
Angelo Ogbonna (Aguerd 45’) 7
Had played just one minute of football since January but did not let anyone down.
Maxwel Cornet (Alvarez 84’) N/A
Ben Johnson (Coufal 84’) N/A
Unused: Anang, Knightsbridge, Casey, Orford, Dwyer, Ings, Mubama
