West Ham 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen (1-3 on agg): Hammers gave everything against a team that appear to be invincible as Xabi Alonso’s side reach Europa League semi-finals

There have been a collection of memorable and special moments during David Moyes’ European career with West Ham.

When Michail Antonio put his team ahead 1-0 in the 13th minute, it looked like another one could be on the cards. But Bayer Leverkusen did what they have done all season. They are the masters of late goals and, when West Ham tired, the German champions attacked, with Jeremie Frimpong equalizing at the death.

There is a reason why Xabi Alonso’s side are unbeaten in 44 games this season, the longest run ever in the top five European leagues. It is a phenomenal achievement and they are surely the favorites to win this competition.

There will be what would happen if that persists in the coming days for Moyes. What if Lucas Paquetá had not been suspended for last night’s game after an unnecessary yellow card in the first leg? What if Jarrod Bowen’s volley had gone in just before half-time? What if West Ham had suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg instead of conceding a second goal in added time?

“If I was going to leave Europe, I wanted to play like that,” Moyes said. “It was a great performance against a good team.

‘I thought tonight we had a chance to go two or three nil at some point. We missed those opportunities that were really important. I can’t blame the players at all. I thought they were fantastic, their attitude, their effort.

“Three years in Europe have been fabulous and I hope there is still a chance we could be four.”

Moyes knew his team would have to be more attacking from the start and he couldn’t have asked for a better atmosphere from his supporters, who were greatly encouraged by the news that Bowen, who had missed the first leg through injury, I was fit enough to start.

It didn’t take long for their top scorer to produce some magic to get his team back into the playoffs.

The striker collected the ball in the Leverkusen half of the field and played one-two with Vladimir Coufal before sending a cross into the area.

The delivery was perfect for Antonio, who managed to get between Odilon Kossounou and Matej Kovar to head into the back of the net.

Bowen then came incredibly close to leveling the tie when he connected with Mohammed Kudus’s cross to the far post, but his volley was saved by the feet of Kovar.

Alonso was visibly frustrated on the bench and in the 30th minute he had seen enough when Kossonou was hooked by Edmond Tapsoba.

There was then an altercation both on the touchline and on the pitch when Billy McKinlay and Sebastian Parrilla were sent off for a confrontation, before Antonio and Jonathan Tah clashed minutes later.

Alonso made two more changes at half-time, with Victor Boniface and Frimpong replacing Patrik Schick and Nathan Tella.

The changes worked, with Leverkusen much better in possession and defence. West Ham’s only real chance fell to Bowen, who was caught in doubt as to whether to shoot or cross and ultimately did neither.

Leverkusen have become accustomed to late goals and in the 88th minute, Frimpong added another to his collection for the season. The midfielder found space in the area and his deflected shot beat Lukasz Fabianski.

Applause resounded throughout the London stadium. Disappointment was in the air, but the overwhelming feeling was one of pride. Reaching the final stages of European tournaments three years in a row is no small feat. It may be some time before they get it again.