EINTRACHT FRANKFURT reached their first European final for 42 years after a 1-0 home win on Thursday over 10-man West Ham sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory in their Europa League semi-final.
West Ham had left-back Aaron Cresswell sent off early on and Hammers manager David Moyes was also dismissed from the sidelines with 12 minutes left for arguing with the referee.
Colombia striker Rafael Borre netted the first-half winner on the night to book Frankfurt a place in the Europa League final on 18 May in Seville against Scottish giants Rangers.
Borre scored just after Cresswell was sent off, leaving the visitors a man down for more than an hour and needing to score twice just to force extra time.
Frankfurt had been dealt an early blow when key defender Martin Hinteregger limped off with a leg injury.
When a long ball put Frankfurt’s Jens Hauge into space, Cresswell pulled back the Norwegian, who went down just outside the area.
Cresswell, who was also sent off in the quarter-final first leg against Lyon, was initially only booked, but referee Jesus Gil Manzano brandished the red card after a VAR review.
Moyes responded by swapping Ben Johnson for forward Manuel Lanzini.
Yet Frankfurt went ahead in the 26th minute.
When the hosts attacked down the right flank, Ansgar Knauff’s cross found Borre, who fired home unmarked in the area.
Dogged defending in the second half restricted Frankfurt to just a handful of chances for Knauff and Filip Kostic, who caused havoc on the left.
West Ham had chances of their own and as the visitors pushed for an equaliser, Manzano banished Moyes to the stands after the Scot lost his temper.
Frankfurt, who lost to Chelsea on penalties in the 2019 Europa League semi-finals, are into their first European final since winning the UEFA Cup in 1979/80.
Best of luck to him.
Fair play to him but is an article really necessary. I doubt that the lad wants to make a big public deal of it
@RiskFreeDuck: I can’t see the club going into that much detail on his issues without his input and consent. I would guess that he knew this type of statement would attract attention to him and he is ok with that. A lot of sportspeople are leading the way trying to show that it is nothing to be ashamed of.
Eitherway, best of luck to the lad.
Best of luck to James. My son is a Ball Boy at UCD & said that James was the most pleasant to all of them. A great keeper as well.
Best of luck to him. A very good keeper. hopefully the knuckle draggers don’t let themselves down and give him unwarranted abuse.
Thank you James for your honesty and bravery in highlighting the mental wellbeing that affects many people. Some try and hide and only get dragged into a situation they don’t want or need.
There is no shortage of help for these people and it is no slight on their character if they are accessing this help!
Good luck and thanks James!!