West Ham 1-1 Leverkusen (1-3 agg): Alonso's side into UEL semis & stay UNBEATEN
West Ham produced a valiant display but ultimately came up short as Bayer Leverkusen substitute Jeremie Frimpong struck in the dying seconds to keep the newly crowned German champions unbeaten and earn a UEFA Europa League semi-final spot with a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.
After winning the first leg of the quarter-final 2-0 last Thursday, the unbeaten Bundesliga leaders endured a torrid first period before recovering strongly to equalise on 89 minutes when Frimpong's deflected shot flew off Aaron Cresswell and beyond home goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
West Ham had dominated the first period and deservedly moved ahead on 13 minutes when Michail Antonio rose bravely to power a header into the net from a delightful Jarrod Bowen cross into the heart of the visiting area with goalkeeper Matej Kovar slow to react.
But they ran out of steam after half-time as visiting coach Xabi Alonso made several changes to steady matters with Leverkusen deservedly progressing to a semi-final meeting with Roma.
West Ham XI: Fabianski, Cresswell, Antonio, Vladimir Coufal, Zouma, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Bowen, Aguerd, Alvarez, Mohammed Kudus
Subs: Ogbonna, Ings, Cornet, Ben Johnson, Anang, Kamarai Swyer, Divin Mubama, Jacob Knightbridge, Kaelan Casey, Lewis Orford
Leverkusen XI: Xhaka, Alejandro Grimaldo, Tah, Schick, Exequiel Palacios, Nathan Tella, Josip Stanisic, Kovar, Odilon, Piero Hincapié, Florian Wirtz
Subs: Hradecky, Lomb, Hofmann, Robert Andrich, Tapsoba, Jeremie Frimpong, Victor Boniface, Amine Adli, Gustavo Puerta, Arthur, Ken Izekor
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