Brave West Ham go down fighting as Treble-chasing Bayer Leverkusen march on

Close, but no cigar. West Ham’s crusade in Europe is over, but it took a cruel deflection to extinguish the flame.

Hammers boss David Moyes hoped the newly-crowned German champions would still be leggy after their title celebrations four days earlier, and for 45 minutes his wish was granted.

Leverkusen were rocked by Michail Antonio’s early goal and stumbled around the Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park like a stag party at chucking-out time.

Any sober assessment of the Irons’ 37th European tie in three seasons must include the admission that, over the two legs, they fell just short in the final third. But it took former Celtic winger Jeremy Frimpong’s spawn 89th-minute equaliser, which took a huge deflection off Aaron Cresswell, to seal Bayer’s passage into the Europa League semi-finals. 

West Ham have enjoyed some memorable nights in Europe on Moyes’ watch, but only twice in their history - against Den Haag (in 1976) and Castilla (1980) had they retrieved a two-goal deficit from the first leg to progress.

And no salvage operation had ever conquered the Bundesliga winners on a 44-match unbeaten run. But Moyes believed the Hammers could puncture Leverkusen’s invincible season, and his programme notes featured the inevitable calls to arms. 

“We all want to continue this European journey,” said the Moyesiah. “This season has been the toughest of our three campaigns so far, but we all want to make it part of this club’s DNA.”

The early goal West Ham craved took just 13 minutes to materialise, and it generated the loudest din in this famous old stadium since Mo Farah’s final lap to clinch the 10,000 metres gold medal on Super Saturday at London 2012.

The Germans had already been guilty of ample sloppiness when, from Jarrod Bowen ’s diagonal cross, Antonio barged between Bayer keeper Matej Kovar and dithering centre-back Odilon Kossounou to head only his fifth goal of the season.

Michail Antonio headed West Ham in front on the night
(Image: Getty Images)

Bowen almost levelled the tie on aggregate from a Mohammed Kudus cross but his volley was blocked by Kovar’s feet - and then it all kicked off.

Moyes had accused the Leverkusen coaching chorus line of “disgraceful” conduct to get Lucas Paqueta booked - and suspended for the return leg - after the Hammers’ late collapse in the BayArena.

When Billy McKinlay, the Hammers’ senior coaching lieutenant, got involved in another spat with the away bench here, he was shown the red card along with Sebastian Parrilla, one of Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso’s backroom staff.

Jeremie Frimpon fired a late equaliser for Leverkusen to put the tie beyond doubt
(Image: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

When referee Jose Maria Sanchez’s back was turned, as he dealt with the squabbling factions in the dugouts, a rolling maul developed on the pitch. Antonio was booked for his part in the shadow boxing, but gradually the German champions gained a measure of control and the Irons’ onslaught became more sporadic.

Bowen went close again from an unfavourable angle, but the Hammers had emptied the tank and they grew increasingly exasperated with Sanchez awarding nearly every 50-50 call in Leverkusen’s favour.

But Frimpong’s equaliser was as cruel as it was fortuitous, and now Moyes’ only route back to Europe will be through a top-seven finish in the Premier League.

Given a standing ovation on the final whistle, they look too shattered to rekindle the fire. 

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.