When referee Zwayer expelled Cresswell for a professional foul in injury time at the end of the first half, everything was set for Lyon to win at London Stadium: they had one player more on the pitch, they had tradition on their side (unbeaten in six matches against English sides) and they had more creative players than the Hammers (Paqueta, Ndobmbele, Emerson, Faivre, Aouar), but they played very pale and unaggressive and managed a bad draw in the first tie of Europa League’s quarterfinal: West Ham – Lyon 1-1.Wow no words What an atmosphere 😍⚒ COYI⚒ #WHULYO #COYI #westham pic.twitter.com/UWb4Cb5Ti4— ✨Ash✨ (@mead_jade) April 7, 2022 It was a bad day in the office for coach Peter Bosz, who will probably be sacked at the end of the season, after failing to do anything with a quality team like Lyon. He didn’t motivate his players for this match, the Frenchmen didn’t used their techincal superiority, and they even allowed themselves to receive a goal from 10 men West Ham. Too bad for a team who eliminated Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2019-20.1 – Aaron Cresswell is the first ever West Ham United player to be shown a red card in European competition (excluding qualifiers). Rash. pic.twitter.com/C4DjnwgRuO— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 7, 2022 With 3 wins from the last 7 games, West Ham came to this match on the wings of a Sevilla elimination by two goals difference, but with terrible form of their forwards. First half was a rather dull affair, with the guests holding the ball almost 70% of time, while Hammers had a few good run-ins, but with nothing worth a mention. In the 15th minute we saw the only chance in 45 minutes, when Benrahma went through on the left, but was denied by Lyon goalkeeper Lopes. And then nothing happened until the third minute of injury time, when Moussa Dembele stormed towards the West Ham goal, only to be fouled by Aaron Cresswell for the straight red card. Hammers coach David Moyes went berserk at the referee Zwayer near the tunnel at halftime, and ever got the yellow card.The guy who won two Champions Leagues and 9 Bundesliga titles made a crucial mistake and allowed Jerod Bowen to score the first goal of the match in the 52nd minute. No other English player has more Premier League goal involvements (nine goals, eight assists) than Bowen, and he continued his good form with a goal in this match, unlike the main striker Michail Antonio, who scored only two goals in all competition in 2022.Lyon finally took the initiative and actually tried to attack West Ham after they fell behind. A substitute Tete had a good cross, but Fredericks’ clearance was poor and on loan Spurs midfielder Ndombele tapped in from 3 meters for the equalizer. And after that, Lyon again played like in the first half, which means dull and with no real chances. Lyon must do better in France in 7 days.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUEQuarter-final, first legThursdayRB Leipzig – Atalanta 1-1 (0-1)/Zappacosta (og) 58 – Muriel 17/Eintr.Frankfurt – Barcelona 1-1/Knauff 48 – Torres 66/West Ham – Olympique Lyon 1-1 (0-0)/Bowen 52 – Ndembele 66/Braga – Rangers 1-0 (1-0)/Ruiz 40/
