Cresswell sees red, Moyes off, as Hammers miss out on final
WEST HAM’S European dream faded and died after the red mist descended during an acrimonious 1-0 defeat away to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Full-back Aaron Cresswell was sent off in the first half to leave the Hammers facing an uphill battle, and manager David Moyes was also ordered from the touchline late on after angrily kicking a ball back towards a ball kid.
It was a sad end to an uplifting run to the last four of the Europa League, with West Ham beating sides from Croatia, Belgium, Austria, Spain and France to reach a first European semi-final since 1976.
But, trailing 2-1 from the first
leg, against the same opposition that West Ham overturned the same deficit against on that famous night 46 years ago, Moyes’s side were unable to emulate Trevor Brooking, Billy Bonds et al by going on to reach the final.
Instead a 3-1 aggregate defeat put paid to their chance of a place in the Champions League – the prize for the winners of the trophy – next season.
The goal came from Cresswell’s flank on the West Ham left, now occupied by substitute Ben Johnson who had come on for the unlucky Manuel Lanzini.
The West Ham defence was pulled horribly out of shape as Ansgar Knauff had the time and space to roll a low cross for Rafael Santos Borre to convert unchallenged from eight yards out.
Declan Rice said: “We’re gutted in there. We’ve come so far as a group and given everything this year.
“Proud as well, to go down to 10 men and put in that shift.
“We’ve come so far, nobody expected West Ham to be here,” he added.