UEL: Bowen goal helps 10-man West Ham draw with Lyon

Jarrod Bowen was on target but 10-man West Ham were ultimately left frustrated after securing a 1-1 draw at home to Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.

The Hammers had high hopes of building a lead to take to France but they were dealt a huge blow on the stroke of half time when Aaron Cresswell was adjudged to have pulled back Moussa Dembele as he charged through on goal.

The referee produced a straight red card despite what appeared to be minimal contact and Dembele’s cheeky wink of approval.

It was an explosive conclusion to a drab opening period where the visitors probed without creating much of note while Said Benrahma had the home side’s best effort on the counter attack.

The Hammers adjusted their game-plan at the interval and deservedly stole in front on 52 minutes when Bowen pounced on Pablo Fornals’ deflected pass to fire home.

Lyon had lacked imagination in the final third but pulled level out of the blue on 66 minutes when on-loan Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele tapped home from close-range.

Level after the first leg.

We'll go again in Lyon! ✊#WHUOL | #UEL pic.twitter.com/llzntmcRrI

— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 7, 2022

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The French side continued to dominate as they tried to make their one-man advantage count but could not find a way through West Ham’s stubborn rearguard.

The Hammers will now regroup for their visit to Brentford on Sunday ahead of the second leg in France on April 14. Lyon travel to Strasbourg.