Leverkusen 2 – 0 West Ham

Jonas Hofmann and Victor Boniface got here off the bench to unlock West Ham and earn Bayer Leverkusen a late 2-0 victory within the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

Leverkusen prolonged their unbeaten run to 42 matches this season and can take a deserved result in the London Stadium in per week, however they needed to be affected person to interrupt down David Moyes’ cussed Hammers.

West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski made a number of excellent saves to maintain the scores stage, denying Patrik Schick with two fantastic stops in both half, whereas Mohammed Kudus wasted a giant probability early on for the guests.

Leverkusen dominated possession all through but couldn’t discover a method by way of till Xabi Alonso made adjustments. Hofmann struck first seven minutes from time, volleying house from contained in the field earlier than Boniface added an important second with an injury-time header to depart West Ham with a mountain to climb.

How Leverkusen broke West Ham’s resolve

The Hammers, with out injured high scorer Jarrod Bowen and defensive midfielder Edson Alvarez by way of suspension, had been nearly undone within the seventh minute when Josip Stanisic’s wayward shot was flicked in the direction of aim by Schick however the ball went straight to Fabianski.

However Leverkusen got a warning of West Ham’s prowess on the counter-attack moments later when Michail Antonio outstripped Jonathan Tah and squared the ball to Kudus, however the Ghana winger’s first-time strike was comfortably held by Matej Kovar.

Nonetheless, West Ham had been largely camped in their very own penalty space with Fabianski making huge saves to maintain out harmful efforts from Alex Grimaldo, Shick and Edmond Tapsoba.

Lucas Paqueta’s over-enthusiastic problem on Amine Adli earned him a reserving which suggests he’ll miss the second leg together with Emerson who was proven a yellow early within the second half.

Jeremie Frimpong, a former Manchester Metropolis teen, hit a low angled drive straight at Fabianski, earlier than the 38-year-old Pole made a surprising save to tip Shick’s instinctive header over the crossbar.

However with seven minutes remaining Fabianski was powerless to stop Hoffman’s shot bouncing by way of a sea of white shirts and into the web after a nook was solely half-cleared.

Tomas Soucek cleared two Tah efforts off the road in a determined finale earlier than Boniface headed the second to depart the Hammers needing a significant turnaround within the second leg.

Moyes: We’re nonetheless within the tie

West Ham boss David Moyes instructed TNT Sports activities: “Leverkusen have file of scoring late. We had been conscious of that.

“They did an important job however we performed in opposition to a Champions League facet and we’re not fairly at that stage. We’re nonetheless within the tie and we’ve got half an opportunity within the second leg.

“We might wish to have performed extra attacking. The gamers did an excellent job with the construction. We bought performed by two corner-kicks. The second was actually poor from our standpoint.

“It may take some efficiency as a result of they are a actually good crew. You by no means know what is going on to occur. Let’s attempt to get one after which see if we are able to get two. We’ll decide ourselves up for subsequent week and hopefully get the gang behind us.

“This crew we’re enjoying will probably be Champions League subsequent yr. Now we have to recognise what we’re enjoying in opposition to. We’ll must do exceptionally effectively to get that consequence.”

What’s subsequent?

Bayer Leverkusen might safe the Bundesliga title after they host Werder Bremen on Sunday dwell on Sky Sports activities Enviornment, kick-off 4.30pm.

West Ham welcome London rivals Fulham to the London Stadium on Sunday, kick-off 2pm. Leverkusen then go to for the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final on April 18, kick-off 8pm.