Late Leverkusen show leaves Hammers in peril

Two typically late goals means that the dominant force in German football this season, Bayer Leverkusen, will take a 2-0 lead to London against West Ham United next week in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie. 

LINEUPS

LEV XI: Kovar; Stanisic, Tah*, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo; Wirtz, Adli; Schick

LEV SUBS: Hradecky, Lomb, Arthur, Hincapie, Kossounou, Andrich, Puerta, Hofmann, Tella, Borja Iglesias, Boniface

WHU XI: Fabianski; Mavropanos, Zouma*, Cresswell; Coufal, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Emerson; Kudus, Paqueta; Antonio

WHU SUBS: Anang, Knightbridge, Ageurd, Ogbonna, Johnson, Casey, Orford, Earthy, Cornet, Mubama, Ings

Action: The runaway Bundesliga league leaders Bayer Leverkusen began the game in dominant style and really put West Ham under pressure in the early stages at the BayArena.

However, despite the pressure, the biggest chance of the opening stages came to the visitors on the counter attack when Mohammed Kudus unleashed a really tame effort that was easily saved by Matej Kovar.

Leverkusen then began to have their own genuine chances as the half wore on with Amine Adli forcing an excellent save from Lukasz Fabianski.

West Ham then used Leverkusen losing their heads a bit after Lucas Paqueta’s late challenge on Jeremie Frimpong and the Irons arguably went into the interval as the slightly better side.

However, the vast majority of the second-half was played deep in West Ham territory but David Moyes’ deep defensive block gave up few clear cut chances until very late on.

A goal did eventually come when from a corner, Jonathan Tah headed back across, Victor Boniface failed to connect meaningfully but the ball bounced out to Jonas Hofmann and, on the volley, drilled low and hard through Hammers bodies.

Tah then had three excellent opportunities to score from another set-piece but some excellent yet desperate Irons defending kept the score at just one.

That was until second-half stoppage-time when Jonas Hofmann whipped an inch perfect cross into the aforementioned Boniface and he glanced a header into the bottom corner. 

Another substitute pays dividends for Bayer leverkusen as Victor Boniface gets on the scoresheet 🫡

Xabi Alonso's side make it two against West Ham...
#UEL

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Rl1zvCa3Kr

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 11, 2024

The big picture: Bayer Leverkusen are now unbeaten in 42 matches across all competitions so far this season as Xabi Alonso chases a potential treble with the Germans this season. They can win the Bundesliga this weekend. West Ham face Fulham at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon but will potentially heavily rotate as they try and keep their European dream alive.

Man of the match: Jonathan Tah. The Germany centre-back was essential in the final third for Leverkusen but also supremely confident at the back, limiting any Hammers attacks throughout.

EVENTS

Kick-off

Half-time

’84 | GOAL: Hofmann (1-0)

’90 | GOAL: Boniface (2-0)

Full-time