UEL: 10-man West Ham hold on for 1-1 draw against Lyon

Premier League side West Ham United hosted Ligue 1 side Lyon for the first time in Europe on Thursday, for the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie that ended level.

The visitors started the better side and fashioned a couple of early, if not clear cut chances, sending a warning to West Ham about their offensive prowess.

Wave after wave of Lyon attacks crashed against a stubborn West Ham defence, and the visitors found it hard to find gaps in the well-organised back line of the English side.

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West Ham, for their part, managed to fashion a few chances from dangerous counter-attacks, and their game plan seemed to be working perfectly, until the brink of half-time.

With seconds left on the clock Aaron Cresswell brought down Lyon forward Moussa Dembele in what can only be described as a silly challenge, and was subsequently sent off for his troubles.

The half ended level, with West Ham a man down.

The second half, however, got off to a surprising start as 10-man West Ham managed to break the deadlock and grab the lead in the 52nd minute, courtesy of a goal by the in-form Jarrod Bowen.

Lyon responded to going behind by bringing on a couple of substitutes, and their efforts paid off minutes later when former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tanguy Ndombele prodded the ball home from a rebound.

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The score read 1-1 in the 66th minute, paving the way for a period of Lyon pressure.

Despite persistent attempts by the visitors to find the winning goal, West Ham’s defence held strong, and the match ended level at full-time.

West Ham will travel to France next for the second leg of the tie, which will take place next week on April 13.