CRESS-FALLEN
Ten-man Hammers now have it all to do
AARON CRESSWELL’S controversial red card left a bad taste as West Ham’s dreams of glory in Europe were sabotaged.
Lyon considers itself the gastronomic capital of world cuisine, but one man’s coq au vin is another man’s chicken in a basket – and the Hammers felt chewed up and spat out by Cresswell’s dismissal.
After 45 minutes of shadow boxing, German referee Felix Zwayer decided Cresswell’s tug on Moussa Dembele was worth a straight red.
Yes it was a foul. But denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity? Not with Kurt Zouma covering and Dembele heading away from goal.
Satisfied with the outcome, TV cameras captured Dembele adding insult to ignominy by winking at a team-mate.
Although the Hammers’ 10 men fought valiantly after the break, stealing an unlikely lead through Jarrod Bowen’s 14th of the season, they were denied a miracle as Lyon hit back.
And David Moyes’ side will need to produce their most courageous performance of the season in France next week to keep the dream alive.
It is only two years since Lyon reached the Champions League semi-finals, knocking out a complacent Manchester City in the last eight.
And their teamsheet included some familiar names among London’s discerning football tribes, notably £53.8million anomaly Tanguy Ndombele, their on-loan fugitive from Tottenham.
West Ham manager Moyes warned his side would need to “demonstrate a level of maturity and experience” after toppling Europa League specialists Seville in the previous round. He did not reckon on having to do it with only 10 men after the Cresswell aberration. Furious Moyes waited for referee Zwayer at the break, and was booked for his finger-jabbing protest, while Dembele was feeling less smug seven minutes after the interval as West Ham’s depleted contingent defied the odds.
Pablo Fornals was crowded out on the edge of the box, but Bowen was first to the loose ball and his effort took a helpful deflection off Jerome Boateng and in.
But Ndombele pounced from close range to equalise.