Lyon 0-3 West Ham (Agg 1-4): Player ratings as Hammers blow Lyon away to reach semi-finals
West Ham produced a stunning second-leg performance to reach the Europa League semi-finals at the expense of Lyon on Thursday night, thumping their hosts 3-0 on the road in France.
The first instalment had ended 1-1 at the London Stadium, despite West Ham playing the second half with ten men following Aaron Cresswell's controversial red card.
Lyon dominated the ball for large portions of the first period at the Groupama Stadium, but two goals in the space of seven minutes saw the Hammers end the half in dreamland.
West Ham hearts were in mouths just five minutes in when Karl Toko Ekambi jinked his way through in the left channel and smashed a shot against the base of the post. The danger wasn't over as Romain Faivre ran onto the rebound, but he whipped his effort just over.
The away side didn't pose a threat until midway through the half when Michail Antonio's deep cross was met on the stretch by Jarrod Bowen, but the in-form winger could only direct his volley wide of the post.
Then, with seven minutes of the half remaining, centre-back Craig Dawson rose to meet Pablo Fornals' corner and send a crashing header into the back of the net.
That goal immediately changed the complexion of the match, and West Ham made it two in the last minute of the half. Emerson Palmieri's clearance dropped to Declan Rice on the edge of the box, and the Hammers skipper kept his composure to sweep a finish into the bottom corner via a slight deflection
Three minutes into the second period, West Ham killed the tie. Antonio demonstrated his excellent hold-up ability once again in the left channel and laid a pass off to Fornals. The Spaniard then played an inch-perfect pass into Bowen, who simply passed a low finish into the bottom corner.
Lyon were unable to sustain anything like the kind of pressure required to force a comeback. Moussa Dembele went closest when he sliced a volley just over on the spin, while Alphonse Areola was finally called into action with 20 minutes to go when he pushed Malo Gusto's long-range strike around the post.
West Ham are Europa League semi-finalists. Here's how the players rated...
WEST HAM PLAYER RATINGS
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Alphonse Areola (GK) - 6/10 - Hardly tested but in the way when required, with a good save from Gusto.
Vladimir Coufal (RB) - 5/10 - Nothing spectacular and was a little loose in possession. Lyon had some joy down his wing, too.
Craig Dawson (CB) - 8/10 - In the way of everything before crashing in a downward header at the near post. Then went back to being in the way of everything.
Issa Diop (CB) - 7/10 - Booked for a mistimed lunge. Settled after that and made some important interventions on the ground and aerially.
Ben Johnson (LB) - 6/10 - Another mature outing from the youngster. Got through plenty of good defensive work.
2. Midfielders
Tomas Soucek (CM) - 6/10 - Looked a little laboured in his play at times. Not at his best but sacrificed his attacking play for the cause.
Declan Rice (CM) - 7/10 - Not his best strike but it had enough oomph to beat the goalkeeper with a little help from a deflection. Loads of interceptions but Lyon made his life easy.
Manuel Lanzini (AM) - 6/10 - Put himself about, engaging in nine duels and making nine recoveries. Always a technical outlet. Subbed for Mark Noble.
3. Forwards
Jarrod Bowen (RW) - 7/10 - Couldn't quite control a volleyed chance. Ice cool finish to make it three, rolling it into the bottom corner.
Michail Antonio (ST) - 7/10 - A little isolated at the top end of the pitch in the first half. Battled hard and caused Lyon's defence issues for little reward, but involved in the third goal. Subbed.
Pablo Fornals (LW) - 8/10 - Posed his side's biggest attacking threat early on. Perfect corner onto Dawson's head. Incisive pass for Bowen to make it two assists.
4. Substitutes
Mark Noble (CM) - 6/10 - Helped out defensively and did exactly as asked.
Andriy Yarmolenko (ST) - N/A
Said Benrahma (LW) - N/A