West Ham arrived within the temper to social gathering prefer it was 1976. There was no downpour on this event, no mud bathtub. There was no Upton Park both however there was a good din and the outdated heroes had been again led out at half-time by Sir Trevor Brooking, leaning on the outdated recollections to generate some new ones.

Brooking, wanting positively presidential along with his solar tan and silver-hair, caught the spirit of the evening in his half-time natter on the pitch.

Sure, they beat Eintracht Frankfurt all these years in the past, the final time they made it to a European semi-final. Sure, it could imply a lot to do it once more, to achieve a ultimate, declare a trophy and qualify for the Champions League. It will be huge, presumably, as a result of every part is these days.

But this was not going to be simple. Sensible phrases, certainly. This may not be a formality primarily based on historical past or upon the belief that the Premier League is a lot stronger than the German Bundesliga.

Few current wanted this clarification, nevertheless. Not by this stage. Not after the opening minute of the competition, when Pablo Fornals nodded off on the again submit and Ansgar Knauff nipped in to attain inside 50 seconds, a aim which was maybe the right antidote to all of the dusty nostalgia.

Within the blink of a watch, West Ham had been dragged again into the current, again into the thick of this, the eleventh fixture of an epic Europa League marketing campaign that has already featured spectacular fightbacks to beat Sevilla and Lyon within the knock-out levels.

Right here was one other check of character. And so they rose to it, combating again to equalise by Michail Antonio earlier than half-time, solely to wobble on the again and concede once more early within the second half. They had been the higher aspect at occasions however simply unzipped on the again.

There was very almost a 3rd for the guests within the closing levels once they hit the woodwork. That may have been an excessive amount of for David Moyes and his workforce to swallow with out damaging their perception. Then, in stoppage time, Jarrod Bowen, who hit a submit within the first half, rattled the bar with an overhead kick.

As it’s, West Ham will journey to Frankfurt subsequent week trailing 2-1. The identical rating because it was on the half-way stage in ‘76. Solely this time, the tie will conclude in Germany. Not in entrance of Upton Park’s intimidating ‘Hen Run’ stand however in entrance of passionate Eintracht followers. And little doubt fired up by the prospect of revenge in addition to the notion of a uncommon European ultimate and ticket into the Champions League.

They celebrated after the ultimate whistle as if that they had one foot into the ultimate. Eintracht took Chelsea to penalties earlier than shedding at this semi-final stage of the identical competitors, three years, in the past. And so they arrived in London filled with confidence after knocking favourites Barcelona out within the final eight.

Moyes’s workforce, nevertheless, have discovered to trip set-backs and reply throughout this marketing campaign. They recovered their composure shortly after conceding the early aim and created possibilities. It will provide encouragement subsequent week.

Bowen struck a submit. Despatched racing clear by a go from Tomas Soucek, his low shot clipped goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and diverted in opposition to the body of the aim. The rebound spun agonisingly away from Fornals as he tried to pounce.

Within the twenty first minute, they discovered an equaliser. Kurt Zouma, again in defence after three video games out with an ankle harm, headed a free-kick again throughout aim and Antonio at full stretch hooked a volley in direction of the web along with his proper foot.

Keeper Trapp clawed it away however it was already throughout the road. The bubbles flew excessive as soon as once more. The house crowd roared their assist. Stage, again the place they began the evening and now painfully conscious of the aim menace of Eintracht. They’re ninth, off the tempo within the German Bundesliga however properly balanced, cohesive and fast to interrupt.

Knauff nearly scored his second of the evening, earlier than the interval, firing vast on the flip after a brisk counter assault sprang out of defence stretched the West Ham defence and allowed him area within the penalty space to engineer one other effort at aim.

They sliced by the claret-and-blue ranks as soon as once more once they returned for the second half. Djibril Sow burst by, his shot blocked by Areola however spilled out for Daichi Kamada to faucet into an open internet.

There was a pause because the officers checked the replays for offside however Kamada was on and the aim stood. Eintracht Frankfurt had been forward as soon as in opposition to within the tie.

Stated Benrahma, on to switch Manuel Lanzini, unleashed a roller from distance, which glanced the submit on its approach vast. Kamada hit the body of the aim on the different finish, within the closing levels, a shot which deflected off Dawson, beat Areola and hit a submit.

When Bowen’s spectacular volley crashed in opposition to the bar, down and was hooked clear, West Ham had been crushed. Crestfallen and dissatisfied however alive within the tie and with work to do in Frankfurt.

Right here is Sportsmail’s reside weblog for updates on the Europa League semi-final first leg conflict between West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt, in addition to aim alerts from RB Leipzig vs Rangers.