West Ham secure first European semi-final in 46 years

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West Ham end Lyon's Europa League dreams

West Ham United will face Eintracht Frankfurt for a place in the Europa League final after the Hammers secured their first European semi-final in 46 years with a stunning second-leg victory in Lyon.

Having held on for a 1-1 first-leg draw in London after playing the entire second half with 10 men, West Ham withstood periods of intense early pressure before sweeping their Ligue 1 opposition aside.

The visitors struck twice in seven minutes at the end of the first half, as Craig Dawson met Pablo Fornals’ corner with a superb near-post header before a deflected Declan Rice strike put the Premier League club in total charge.

Jarrod Bowen extended the advantage within three minutes of the restart, slotting in at the end of a sweeping counter-attack, and a deflated Lyon could offer no response as West Ham comfortably saw out a memorable win.

The statement victory set up the biggest match in the club’s recent history, against Bundesliga side Frankfurt, who upset Spanish giants Barcelona 3-2 at the Nou Camp to win 4-3 on aggregate.

The Hammers prevailed 4-3 on aggregate on that occasion and it is the German side they must once again overcome if they are to reach the final in Seville next month, as their hugely impressive Europa League journey continues.

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