West Ham United produced a superb performance to beat Ligue 1 side Lyon 3-0 thanks to skipper Declan Rice. The skipper has scored five goals in all competitions this season – matching his total from his last five campaigns combined. West Ham United will face Eintracht Frankfurt for a place in the Europa League final after the Hammers secured their first European semi-final in 46 years with a stunning second-leg victory in Lyon.
West Ham United Book Europa League Semifinal Ticket with Frankfurt
Having held on for a 1-1 first-leg draw in London after playing the entire second half with 10 men, David Moyes’ players withstood periods of intense early pressure before sweeping their Ligue 1 opposition aside.
The English Premier League side struck twice in seven minutes at the end of the first half, as Craig Dawson met Pablo Fornals’ corner with a superb near-post header before a deflected Declan Rice strike put the Premier League club in total charge. Jarrod Bowen extended the advantage within three minutes of the restart, slotting in at the end of a sweeping counter-attack, and a deflated Lyon could offer no response as West Ham comfortably saw out a memorable win.
The statement victory set up the biggest match in the club’s recent history, against Bundesliga side Frankfurt, who beat in-form Barcelona 3-2 at Nue Camp, remember David Moyes has earlier stated that he is not praying to Barcelona in the semifinals it seems his prayers have been answered. The German side upset Spanish giants Barcelona at the Nou Camp to win 4-3 on aggregate.
