Clinton Morrison: West Ham can still reach Europa League final
West Ham fell to a 2-1 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-final at the London Stadium last night [April 28].
A Michail Antonio equaliser wasn’t enough after the Bundesliga side opened the scoring inside one minute, scoring their second and the games’ winner inside ten minutes of the second half.
However, BBC pundit Clinton Morrison has insisted the east London outfit can still reach the final in Seville with it all to play for next week.
He told BBC Sport: “It’s definitely not over, there were good signs from West Ham in the second half.
“Frankfurt are a good team and this was a professional away performance. West Ham did create chances, Jarrod Bowen was really unlucky.
“They’re not out of this though, and they will have some confidence going into the second leg because they did it against Lyon, who I think are a better team.”
All to play for.
The tie is certainly there for the taking for West Ham in the second leg. Frankfurt were good but nothing the Irons can’t deal with.
David Moyes’ side were actually the architects of their own downfall and should have done better with both goals.
Tonight’s opponents were clinical with their finishing which is something the Hammers will have to remember and not give away any chances in the return fixture.
It was great for Michail Antonio to get a goal at long last – hopefully, he used that confidence to get some more from now until the end of the season as the Irons target the Europa League trophy and Champions League football.
As Morrison said, it wasn’t as fortunate of a game for Jarrod Bowen who struck the woodwork twice.
Despite losing, there are a lot of positives to take. The Irons have overturned a first-leg deficit before this season and they will have to do it again to reach the final.
In other West Ham news, a BBC pundit has slammed Moyes’ harsh criticism of one key West Ham man.
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