After the 1-1 draw in the first leg in London, a more exciting outcome of the tie was expected. However, thanks to clinical efficiency with goals from Dawson, Rice and Bowen, the English team left the match sentenced shortly after the break.
The match began with Olympique taking the initiative with Toko Ekambi at the helm. The Cameroonian drove the English defense crazy on both sides. After five minutes he sent a shot to the post and shortly after caused Diop’s yellow card with a great dribble.
West Ham seemed more concerned with not conceding a goal and not getting messy, so they were waiting crouched to set up counterattacks. The first arreón of the English team did not arrive until after 20 minutes. Bowen was the first to arrive in danger with a shot deflected after a dangerous cross from Antonio.
A notice that left the Olympique seams in the air. West Ham realized then that any ball hanging in the local area caused panic. When the first half hour of play had not been completed, the first goal of the night came. Fornals took a corner at the near post and a free-scoring Dawson sent the ball into the back of the net.
At Olympique, who until then thought they had the game under control, the world fell apart. The central couple were shaken with each attack by West Ham. Soucek with a cross to the heart of the area put Denayer and Lukeba in evidence again. The ball passed through the front of attack without anyone clearing it.
This is how the second English goal came shortly before the break. Another cross, this time to the front of the area, but this time Declan Rice passed by there to subdue the locals again with a shoe.
Lyon tried to react after the break with a double substitution. Paqueta for Ndombelé, who seemed physically touched, and Teté for Faivre. The French team went on the attack as soon as the game resumed, neglected their backs and conceded the third goal in the first English counterattack. Bowen found a highway through the center of the area and with a whiplash he beat Pollersbeck.
But the team led by David Moyes did not shake their pulse in the second half against a French squad that hardly had any chances, only Gusto and Dembelé with two deflected shots threatened Areola’s goal.
Lyon bid farewell to Europe with a resounding whistle from their fans while West Ham heads to the semi-finals where they will face Eintracht Frankfurt, Barcelona’s executioner.
The entrance English West Ham make history was first published in diary TODAY.
