Despite suffering a defeat in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen, David Moyes remains optimistic about West Ham’s chances.
The two late goals that condemned his side to defeat have not dampened his belief that they are still in the tie. Jonas Hofmann’s goal, fired through a crowd of bodies, and Victor Boniface’s well-directed header in injury time secured the victory for Leverkusen.
Despite dominating possession, Leverkusen struggled to break through West Ham’s superbly organized defense until Hofmann’s intervention. Moyes acknowledges the challenge they face in the second leg against a strong team but remains hopeful.
He emphasizes the importance of putting on a performance and aims to score at least one goal, with the hope of rallying the crowd behind them. West Ham’s disciplined display limited Leverkusen’s chances, and they also posed a threat on the counter-attack through Michail Antonio’s pace and power.
Lukasz Fabianski’s smart saves played a crucial role in keeping Leverkusen at bay. However, Hofmann’s breakthrough and Boniface’s goal sealed the victory for Leverkusen, extending their unbeaten run to 42 matches.