The equalizer came in the 21st minute: Kurt Zouma headed a free-kick cross into the middle, where Antonio completed the goal with a long leg to make it 1-1. In an exciting and balanced first half, Eintracht had the best chance when Knauff was able to hold the ball in the penalty area, but just missed the goal after a turn.
Kamada hits the goal and the post
At the beginning of the second half, Eintracht regained their lead. Jesper Lindstrom played Sow wonderfully freely. Sow’s shot was denied by West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola, but Kamada stroked the rebound over the line from close range (55 minutes).
West Ham then pressed for the equalizer, Eintracht bravely held back and hardly allowed anything. In the 68th minute there was a moment of shock after all: Said Benrahma, who had just come on as a substitute, took aim from a distance but only hit the outer post. The Hessians also had bad luck at the post when Kamada completed a counterattack worth seeing with a flick to the aluminum (79th). The aluminum triple was perfected by a spectacular overhead kick by Bowen in added time, which bounced off the crossbar back into the field. Great relief for Eintracht – and shortly afterwards great cheering at the final whistle.
Second leg in Frankfurt next Thursday
The second leg will take place next Thursday at 9 p.m. in the Frankfurt Arena – then it will be decided who will advance to the Europa League final on May 18 in Seville. Eintracht have to worry about the use of Lindström, who hobbled off the pitch in London after about an hour with an injury. Jakic and N’Dicka, on the other hand, will return after their suspensions.
Source: HR