LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Michail Antonio of West Ham reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Quarter-Final second leg match between West Ham United FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Olympic Stadium on April 18, 2024 in London, England.(Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images) (Image: Offside via Getty Images)
West Ham's Michail Antonio is staring down the barrel of a UEFA suspension after launching a scathing attack on the match officials following their Europa League departure. Despite the Hammers' valiant efforts, which nearly saw them become the first team to beat Bundesliga titans Bayer Leverkusen this season, their European dream was dashed by a fortuitous deflection in the dying moments of the game.
The Londoners' gallant charge came to an end with a stroke of misfortune as Jeremie Frimpong's late strike took a wicked deflection off Aaron Cresswell, leaving keeper Lukasz Fabianski helpless. The Irons may have bowed out, but they were lauded with a standing ovation at full-time for their spirited display.
However, Antonio's post-match comments about referee Jose Maria Sanchez's contentious officiating could land him in hot water. He fumed: "I felt like I didn't get a decision all game. I felt a bit frustrated. We felt like we deserved more. Sometimes the decisions don't go your way. We move on, build on that and try to get into the Europa League next year.
"It doesn't feel like you're playing against 11 men, it feels like you're playing against 13 or 14 including the two linos. You have to keep pushing and try and make the decisions go your way, but they just weren't. We had to keep playing our way and keep being professional.
"We're very proud of ourselves - three back-to-back years in European quarter-finals is unbelievable, I would never have thought that. We were a yo-yo team - into Europe, then fighting for relegation."
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Players of both side's clash before Michail Antonio of West Ham United and Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen are shown yellow cards during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Quarter-Final second leg match between West Ham United FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Olympic Stadium on April 18, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)
Sanchez booked 11 players and sent off one coach from each bench, with Moyes remarking: "If that's the way it is in Spain, you wouldn't want to watch too much Spanish football. I have to say my players were brilliant tonight and I can't fault their effort."
Hammers manager Moyes had hoped Leverkusen would be feeling the effects of their Bundesliga title celebrations just four days prior, and for the first half, his hopes seemed to materialise. The German side appeared unsettled by Antonio's goal, assisted by Jarrod Bowen's cross, and looked as disoriented around the London Stadium as a stag party at closing time.
However, a realistic look at West Ham's 37th European match in three seasons must concede that they fell slightly short across both legs.
West Ham have had some standout evenings in Europe under Moyes' leadership, but only on two occasions in their history against Den Haag in 1976 and Castilla in 1980 have they managed to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg to advance.
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EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.Mandatory Credit: Photo by Simon Dael/REX/Shutterstock (14438414bq)West Ham United players line up ahead of kick offWest Ham United v Bayer 04 Leverkusen, UEFA Europa League, Quarter Final, Second Leg, Football, London Stadium, London, UK - 18 Apr 2024 (Image: Simon Dael/REX/Shutterstock)
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Moyes had previously slammed the Leverkusen coaching staff for what he called "disgraceful" behaviour leading to Lucas Paqueta's booking resulting in a suspension for the second leg after West Ham's defeat at the BayArena last week, and the tension was palpable once more.
Billy McKinlay, David Moyes' right-hand man, found himself embroiled in a heated exchange with the opposition's bench, resulting in both him and Sebastian Parrilla from Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen team being sent off. Amidst the chaos, referee Sanchez missed the onset of a brawl on the field.
Antonio received a yellow card for his involvement in the tussle, but after half-time, Leverkusen began to dominate, reducing West Ham's attacks to infrequent bursts.
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Alonso, who is in pursuit of a treble of Bundesliga, German Cup, and Europa League titles, confessed: "I wasn't nervous in the first half but I was worried - we weren't feeling comfortable on the pitch. But over the two legs we deserved to go through."
Jarrod Bowen nearly scored from a tight angle, yet it seemed West Ham had run out of steam. And while Frimpong's goal to level the score might have been lucky, it felt like a fair outcome.
Now, Moyes faces the challenge of securing European competition through a top-seven finish in the Premier League, but his squad may be too exhausted to ignite that spark once more.
