Bayer (Leverkusen) drew 1:1 away to West Ham in the quarterfinal rematch of the Europa League, Topsport reported. Thus, the new champion of Germany qualified for the penultimate phase of the tournament after winning the first match 2:0. Autumn this "aspirins" extended their unbeaten streak and became the only team from Europe's top 5 leagues with the longest unbeaten streak in history - 44 games.
The first real scoring opportunity in the match was in front of West Ham's goal in the 11th minute. Lukasz Fabianski had to intervene decisively after a shot from Nathan Tella to prevent a goal for the visitors.
West Ham took a 1-0 lead against Bayer Leverkusen in the 13th minute. Jared Bowen crossed into the Bayer Leverkusen penalty area, where Odilon Kosunu dropped Michail Antonio and goalkeeper Matej Kovarge was late in his exit, allowing the West Ham striker to head the ball into the Leverkusen goal.
West Ham could have leveled the aggregate score against Bayer Leverkusen in the 19th minute. Mohamed Kudus could have benefited from a mistake by Josip Stanisic, but the Ghanaian's shot was saved by Matej Kovarj.
Three minutes later, Bowen won the ball in his own half, advanced well and combined with Ward-Prowse on the left flank, and he crossed into the Bayer box, where Antonio again fought for the ball and headed home. but this time his shot did not have the power to trouble the goalkeeper Kovarzh.
West Ham made a very big mistake in the 25th minute. Jared Bowen received a nice pass in the Bayer Leverkusen penalty area and shot from the air, but Covarage made an instinctive right-footed save.
Xabi Alonso replaced in the 29th minute his central defender Odilon Kosunu, who is suspended with a yellow card, and in his place Edmond Tapsoba.
In the 30th minute, there was tension between Mihail Antonio and Edmond Tapsoba. The attacker provokes the defender. There was a very serious argument between the football players of the two teams. Referee Jose Sanchez Martinez showed yellow cards to Jonathan Ta and Antonio.
West Ham made a very serious mistake in the 40th minute. Creswell crosses into the Bayer Leverkusen penalty area where Antonio shoots but his shot is blocked by Incapier. Three minutes later, Ward-Prowse shot, but straight into the hands of Covarage.
Bayer Leverkusen organized a quick counterattack in the 51st minute. Florian Wirtz received a nice pass in the West Ham box but the finish was disappointingly wide.
West Ham missed a great opportunity for a second goal in the 60th minute. Piero Incapier made a blunder in the Leverkusen penalty area and lost the ball, which was taken from him by Jared Bowen, who was alone against Covarge, but he lost concentration at the most important moment and his shot was very inaccurate.
Jeremy Frimpong made a surprise shot in the 66th minute, Fabianski intervened and kicked for a corner.
Bayer Leverkusen made a huge mistake in the 83rd minute. The visitors organized a counter-attack where Jeremy Frimpong was alone against Fabianski, but his shot was very inaccurate over the crossbar in the out.
The guests equalized in the 89th minute. Jeremy Frimpong shot, the ball ricocheted off Creswell's body, lied to Fabianski and flew into his goal.
In the fourth minute of added time of the match, Victor Boniface could have brought the victory for Leverkusen, but his shot did not find the target and went out.
In the semi-finals Bayer (Leverkusen) will face Roma in a repeat of last year's matches between the two teams in the same phase of the tournament. Then the Italians went ahead with a total score of 1:0.