MY ACCOUNT
Eintracht Frankfurt took a significant step towards the Europa League final with another impressive away win, beating West Ham 2-1 at London Stadium in their semi-final first leg.
The Bundesliga side had beaten Barcelona away from home to reach this stage and showed why they had caused the Blaugrana such problems in their latest exciting attacking display that featured the earliest ever Europa League semi-final goal.
That Ansgar Knauff header after 50 seconds was cancelled out by Michail Antonio later in the first half, but Frankfurt were firmly on top following the restart.
Daichi Kamada tapped in what proved to be the winner on the night, with Jarrod Bowen almost stealing a draw when an audacious acrobatic effort cannoned off the crossbar in injury time leaving David Moyes’ West Ham a tough task heading to Germany for next week’s return match.
Knauff had netted in the home draw with Barcelona and got his name on the scoresheet again when found by Rafael Borre’s cross from the left corner of the West Ham penalty area, in behind Pablo Fornals and able to head into the bottom-left corner.
Bowen should have equalised before Antonio did, shooting against the post after running clear but let off the hook as Kurt Zouma – cleared to start following an ankle injury – headed Manuel Lanzini’s free-kick down for West Ham’s number nine to toe across the line.
Knauff squandered an opportunity to restore Frankfurt’s lead before the break, yet Kamada made no mistake nine minutes into the second period, almost walking the ball into the net when Alphonse Areola parried Djibril Sow’s effort at the end of an incisive move.
Kamara almost added another on the counter as West Ham went looking for a second leveller, seeing his curler deflected onto the post, although there could have been a dramatic final twist when Bowen’s overhead kick bounced away off the woodwork at the last.
What does it mean? Opportunity missed for Hammers
West Ham fans perhaps could be forgiven for thinking their route to the final had been cleared by Frankfurt’s stunning elimination of favourites Barcelona, but the German side showed again on Thursday they are a threat in their own right, initially picking paths through the home defence and then working effectively on the counter.
Still, the Hammers won the expected goals battle 2.7 to 1.5 but could not take their chances. With Frankfurt set to welcome back star defender Evan Ndicka for the second leg, creating similar opportunities again may not be so easy.
Kamada at it again in London
Only three players have scored more European goals (excluding qualifiers) for Frankfurt than Kamada, who took his tally to 11 with this straightforward winner.
Five of those have been scored away from home, now including three in London. Kamada also netted twice in a 2-1 victory away to Arsenal in 2019-20.
Bowen so close to brilliance
Winger Bowen has been one of West Ham’s outstanding players this season, scoring 15 times in all competitions, but he was unable to add to that tally on Thursday, instead hitting the frame of the goal with two of his three attempts.
Moyes would have undoubtedly expected Bowen to put away his first opportunity, although it mattered little as Antonio equalised soon afterwards. On the other hand, his last-gasp volley was scarcely a chance at all, but it was one the Hammers needed to go in.
What’s next?
Before the second leg in Germany, West Ham host Arsenal in the Premier League while Frankfurt go to Bayer Leverkusen.
