In a thrilling Europa League encounter at London Stadium, Jeremie Frimpong emerged as the hero for Bayer Leverkusen, securing their progression to the semi-finals at the expense of West Ham United. Frimpong’s late equalizer dashed West Ham’s hopes of a comeback, sealing a 1-1 draw on the night and a 3-1 aggregate victory for the German champions.
Michail Antonio had given West Ham an early lead with a well-taken header in the 13th minute, igniting hopes of a memorable turnaround for David Moyes’ side. However, despite dominating the first half, the Hammers couldn’t find a second goal to truly threaten Leverkusen’s advantage.
Leverkusen, bolstered by the introduction of Victor Boniface at halftime, grew into the game in the second half, with Frimpong ultimately delivering the decisive blow in the dying moments of the match. His late strike, albeit deflected, not only salvaged a draw for his team but also extended Leverkusen’s remarkable unbeaten run.
The result sets up a mouthwatering semi-final clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Roma, promising an enthralling battle between two European heavyweights. Leverkusen will be eager to avenge their semi-final defeat to Roma last season, while Roma, under the management of club legend Daniele de Rossi, will be determined to continue their impressive resurgence in European competition.
For West Ham United, despite their disappointment, there were moments to cherish, particularly the appreciation shown by their fans for their memorable European journey over the past three years. However, attention will now inevitably turn to the future, with questions lingering over the contract status of manager David Moyes and the team’s prospects of securing European qualification via their domestic league campaign.
