Andre Ayew's Westham crash out of Europa League after 2:1 aggregate defeat
25th August 2016
WEST HAM left the London Stadium pitch humiliated as their European dream came crashing to an end at the hands of Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu.
The hosts missed a tonne of chances, defended woefully for Filipe Teixeira’s winner but Astra keeper Silviu Lung Jr made some outstanding saves to keep his side in the lead.
Facts, stats and goals
- West Ham are concentrating on the Prem after stumbling out of the Europa League in their brand new stadium – ideal for hosting European football, ironically.
- Slaven Bilic said either Dimitri Payet or Manuel Lanzini would play a part but neither made the squad, which is a worry for Sunday’s visit to Man City.
- With Andy Carroll and Payet injured, the Hammers have almost £250,000-a-week in wages sidelined. They need medical miracles or a marquee signing.
- Michail Antonio can play in defence or attack but he lacks balls of steel after doubling over on 23 minutes from a ball to the crotch.
- Assistant referee Mike Pickel knows his onions – he made a number of spot-on calls, spread across the game, and relished the occasion.
- If Leicester proved possession football isn’t king, West Ham took no notice. They knocked the ball about aimlessly for 45 minutes before conceding through Teixeira.
- Bilic could replace crocked Carroll with 45-year-old Astra manager Marius Sumudica who rose like a salmon to head a second-half West Ham clearance.
- Loan signing Jonathan Calleri is a poor sub for failed Hammers transfer ‘targets’ Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Lacazette and Carlos Bacca.
- On 70 minutes sub Ashley Fletcher should have had a penalty or a yellow card after going down under a challenge in the Astra box.
- Brilliant Astra keeper Silviu Lung took our breath away with last-gasp saves to deny Fletcher and Antonio.