David Moyes’ side did well to share points with Ligue 1 top side Lyon after they were reduced to ten men. The London team kept their hopes of reaching the first European semi-final since 1976 alive by battling to a draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final with Lyon at London Stadium. Aaron Cresswell was given a red card for bringing down visiting skipper Moussa Dembele when he was the last man in first-half stoppage time.
David Moyes West Ham United Shines in Europa
The red card changed the plan David Moyes came with to the game but it did not spoil the plan completely as the game ended in a tie. Despite the setback, Jarrod Bowen put the Hammers in front seven minutes after the re-start when he seized on a Jerome Boateng mistake in his box and finished on the turn.
But it was a rare glimpse of goal for the home side, who were forced to defend for long periods. Their defenses were eventually breached by on-loan Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, who tapped home from close range to earn them a point. West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola denied Emerson with a decent save as Lyon searched for a winner but West Ham held firm, with Craig Dawson particularly impressive in their rearguard action.
Speaking after the game, David Moyes said: “We have a really difficult game in Lyon now but we expected that – it’s very much all to play for and I would have taken that the way we ended the first half.” “It was not a good performance but it was a good, resilient performance defensively.”