Frankfurt vs West Ham LIVE: Europa League result, final score and reaction as Cresswell red card costs Hammers
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 West Ham (Agg 3-1): Follow the reaction after the Hammers lcrash out and fall short of the Europa League final
Eintracht Frankfurt beat 10-man West Ham United 1-0 in their Europa League semi-final second leg to reach their first European final in 42 years with a 3-1 aggregate victory.
In front of a deafening 48,000 crowd, Rafael Borre drilled in the winner for the hosts in the 26th minute, beating the English club for a second time following a 2-1 triumph in the first leg last week.
West Ham, who played most of the game with 10 men after left back Aaron Cresswell was dismissed for a professional foul on Jens Petter Hauge in the 17th minute, were toothless throughout. Hammers manager David Moyes was also sent off in the 79th minute for angrily kicking a ball in a frustrating and scrappy end to West Ham’s European run this season.
The Germans, who last reached a European final in 1980, will face Rangers on May 18 after the Scottish side knocked out RB Leipzig.
Follow reaction from a crucial clash in Frankfurt below:
Eintracht Frankfurt vs West Ham
A quick look inside the Deutsche Bank Park stadium ahead of tonight’s mouth-watering Europa League semi-final second leg.
It cannot be underestimated what a huge night this is for not only Eintracht Frankfurt as a football club, but the city of Frankfurt as a whole.
The German fans are already flocking to the arena to support their side as they bid to reach their first European final since they won the Europa League in 1980.
Early West Ham team news
West Ham were boosted by the return to the bench of Issa Diop in their defeat to Arsenal, but the Frenchman is unlikely to start with Craig Dawson available having been suspended for that league fixture.
Tomas Soucek and Michail Antonio began the loss on the bench; both should start for David Moyes, who may also consider bringing in Vladimir Coufal at right-back.
Early Eintracht Frankfurt team news
Oliver Glasner could keep faith with the side that secured a first leg advantage despite both Evan N’Dicka and Kristijan Jakic being back available after suspension.
Djibril Sow, Daichi Kamada, Almamy Toure and Rafael Borre did not start the weekend defeat to Bayer Leverkusen and could return.
So then, an unchanged XI for the second leg? No surprises for David Moyes?
Eintracht Frankfurt vs West Ham
Eintracht Frankfurt have sold out their 51,000-capacity Deutsche Bank Park for tonight’s seismic semi-final. This is just as big for them as it is for West Ham.
Since the first leg seven days ago, the Bundesliga side have dropped from ninth to 11th in the table following a 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.
That doesn’t matter tonight, though. Tonight is about finishing the job they started in London and reaching the Europa League final.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs West Ham
West Ham had only met Eintracht Frankfurt on two occasions before last week. They came in a two-legged affair in the semi-finals of the 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
In that tie, West Ham lost the first leg 2-1 - much like last week at the London Stadium.
But in the return fixture a fortnight later, the Hammers claimed a 3-1 win to reach the final.
An omen ahead of tonight’s game?
Eintracht Frankfurt vs West Ham
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Eintracht Frankfurt vs West Ham in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final.
The Hammers lost the first leg in London 2-1, despite hitting the woodwork on three occasions including, most dramatically, with a Jarrod Bowen overhead kick right at the death.
It means they’ll need to score at least once in Frankfurt if they want to reach the Europa League final in Seville on May 18, where either Rangers or RB Leipzig will be lying in wait.
David Moyes’ men will be confident of turning the tie around however and winning the Europa League now appears to be their only way to secure Champions League football next term after some Premier League stumbles in recent times.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs West Ham
Right, West Ham fans this is your 10 minute warning. The second leg of your Europa League semi-final is getting underway shortly.
Just how excited/nervous are you? Get in touch with me @dylanterryjnst on Twitter.
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