- Michail Antonio’s early goal inspired hope but West Ham couldn’t level the tie
- Jeremie Frimpong struck late to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory for the German side
- Exhausted Man City?! We’re all tired, but it’s dangerous to spread that message. Big games are what it’s all about: Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
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There 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. It is a phenomenal achievement and they will be the favourites to go on to win this competition.
Moyes had joked that he hoped Leverkusen’s players would still be drunk from their celebrations after sealing the Bundesliga title at the weekend. Alonso’s players certainly looked hungover in the first half and were unusually lethargic. But whatever the Spaniard said at half-time did the trick.
There will be what ifs that linger in the following days for Moyes. What if Lucas Paqueta had been available for the game? The forward picked up an unnecessary yellow card in the first leg. He would undoubtedly have made an impact. 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? Moyes could not have asked for more from his players, who gave everything against a Leverkusen team who appear to be invincible.
West Ham had held out for 83 minutes at the BayArena before late goals from Jonas Hofmann and Victor Boniface had given Leverkusen a 2-0 lead going into the second leg.
The Hammers had managed just one shot to Leverkusen’s 33 and Moyes knew his team would have to be more attacking from the start here. He could not have asked for a better atmosphere from his supporters – who had been given a huge boost by the news that Jarrod Bowen, who had missed the first leg through injury, was fit enough to start.
His chances of returning had been slim at the start of the week but the forward passed a late fitness test. 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.
The delay appeared to momentarily quell the hosts’ momentum, but they remained on top until the half-time whistle.
Alonso made two further subs at half-time, with Boniface and Jeremie Frimpong coming on in place of the anonymous Patrik Schick and Nathan Tella.
The changes worked, with Leverkusen much better in possession and in defence. The only real chance 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 West Ham manage that again.
