Lyon vs. West Ham result: Dawson dominates as Moyes' men clinch Europa League semi-final spot

Feargal Brennan

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Lyon vs. West Ham result: Dawson dominates as Moyes' men clinch Europa League semi-final spot image

West Ham reached their first major European semi-final since 1976 as they sealed a 4-1 aggregate win over Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals following Thursday's outstanding 3-0 victory.

David Moyes' side travelled to France with the contest tightly poised at 1-1 after the first leg, but his disciplined charges turned in a superb performance at the Groupama Stadium.

Man-of-the-match Craig Dawson broke the deadlock on 38 minutes, as he stole in to nod home Pablo Fornals' corner, before Declan Rice's precise finish doubled their advantage just before the break.

Jarrod Bowen's quickfire strike effectively ended the contest within two minutes of the restart as the resilient visitors kept their composure to set up a last-four showdown with Eintracht Frankfurt, who shocked Barcelona in their quarter-final.

MORE: Barcelona vs. Eintracht Frankfurt result: Catalans eliminated from Europa League after Camp Nou calamity

Dawson rules the skies as West Ham power on

With Kurt Zouma and Aaron Cresswell missing through injury and suspension, yet more responsibility was placed on Craig Dawson's experienced shoulders before kick-off in Lyon.

The veteran centre-back has established a cult following in the Hammers fanbase since his permanent move to the London Stadium last year and his partnership with Zouma has anchored West Ham in 2021/22.

Amid the absence of two key men, Dawson stepped up to the challenge with textbook focus and grit, and turned in an eye-catching night in both boxes.

The former Watford man was tasked with shackling Moussa Dembele and he settled any early nerves with a string of key defensive headers to frustrate Lyon's main goal threat.

As West Ham began to get a foothold in the tie before the break, Dawson showed his prowess in the opposition box to peel away from his marker and nod home Pablo Fornals' corner.

With the win edging closer in the second period, West Ham naturally dropped deeper, but Dawson's war with Dembele continued as he stuck to the former Celtic forward like glue and hauled the visitors to victory.

Fornals proves his worth as Moyes' lock-picker in Lyon

David Moyes is a creature of habit when it comes to selecting his starting line-ups, with eight players starting 25+ Premier League games for the Scot so far in 2021/22.

His attacking quartet is predominantly Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen, plus two more from Fornals, Said Benrahma, Manuel Lanzini and, on occasion, Nikola Vlasic.

Moyes stuck by Fornals in Lyon, with Lanzini replacing Benrahma from the first leg, and the Spanish schemer repaid his manager's faith with a non-stop display on the night.

Tasked with providing energetic cover in front of stand-in left-back Ben Johnson, he worked tirelessly to check Malo Gusto's bursts from right-back.

However, it was not just selfless running from the Hammers No.8: he provided the two key moments of calm quality, with a rehearsed corner for Dawson's opener before his instinctive throughball released Bowen for the third goal.

A crucial performance on a night where Moyes needed to be certain on his starting calls has put the former Villarreal star in pole position to start against Eintracht in the semi-final.

Rice sets final target for West Ham

Declan Rice was on a suspension tightrope from kick-off in Lyon but the England international was rarely in danger of risking his semi-final place.

With Lyon duo Houssem Aouar and Tanguy Ndombele failing to match their impressive first-leg showings, Rice and Tomas Soucek enjoyed a steady night in France.

Rice's optimistic post-match message called out Lyon's pre-game assurance as he challenged West Ham to complete the job against Frankfurt and reach the final in Seville.

"It's very special. We knew it was a tough place to come, but we knew with our attacking players, and what we saw in the first game, we could score goals," he told BT Sport.

"To get a 2-0 lead and then come out in the second half and see Jarrod put that one in the net is special. For all the fans, it's a great night.

"If you can't get up for these games, you shouldn't be playing. The roar from the warm-up, it was spine-tingling and it gives you fire in your stomach.

"Their were a few incentives for us tonight, with Dembele winking at the camera in the first leg, and their Twitter admins were saying they don't know how they are not going to beat us, but we put in a performance and now West Ham are in the semis.

"For Frankfurt to beat Barca, they are a good side. We will be ready for whatever. We want to reach the final."

Lyon vs. West Ham final score

  1H 2H Final
Lyon 0 0 0
West Ham 2 3 3

Goals:

WHU — Dawson (Fornals) — 38th min.

WHU — Rice — 44th min.

WHU — Bowen (Fornals) — 47th min.

Lyon vs. West Ham as it happened: commentary and highlights

FULL-TIME: LYON 0 WEST HAM 3

An incredible night for David Moyes' West Ham as they produced a fantastic display in Lyon with first-half goals from Craig Dawson and Declan Rice setting them on the way to a famous win in France.

Jarrod Bowen's goal just after the break sealed it for the travelling Hammers who will now face Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in the last four.

91st min: Four minutes added on as Said Benrahma replaces Rice with the England star avoiding a last four suspension.

90th min: Late change for Lyon as former Arsenal midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide comes on for Jason Denayer.

88th min: Dembele weaves past two challenges on the edge of the box but his weak drive is scooped up by Areola. West Ham are ALMOST in the Europa League semi-finals.

85th min: Excellent hold up play from Antonio as he races away and forces a booking from Barcola and Moyes decides to give his No.9 a late rest as Andriy Yarmolenko comes on.

81st min: Ballon D'Awson indeed

80th min: Another chance goes awry for Lyon as Tete pokes wide at the far post from Gusto's fine cross.

77th min: First change for Moyes as he looks to run down the clock: club captain Mark Noble on for Lanzini.

74th min: Plenty of attacking pressure from Lyon, as they force successive corners, but substitute Barcola blasts over a half chance.

71st min: Change for Lyon as Aouar is replaced by Bradley Barcola.

69th min: Lyon are still plugging away in this one as Gusto breaks in behind and fires across goal but Areola gets down superbly to make a crucial save,

67th min: HUGE NEWS FROM BARCELONA 

63rd min: Half chance for Lyon as Dembele wins a knockdown in the box from Rice but the French international lashes over the top.

47th min: WEST HAM MAKE IT THREE

*Video available in UK

The Hammers are surely now through to the last four as Fornals pinched possession in midfield to release Bowen as the Hammers winger keeps his cool to fire home!!!

46th min: Double change for Lyon at the break as Lucas Paqueta and Tete on and Tanguy Ndombele and Romain Faivre are off.

Half-Time: Lyon 0 West Ham 2 (1-3 on aggregate)

West Ham are 45 minutes away from their first ever Europa League semi final as the Hammers hit Lyon with a ruthless double punch before the break.

Dawson stole across his marker to nod them in front from Fornals' corner before Rice's measured finish has put them on the brink of historic night!!

44th min: WEST HAM ARE IN DREAMLAND...........2-0!!!!!

*Video available in USA

*Video available in UK

Johnson's cross is only cleared to the edge of the box and Declan Rice steadies himself to steer home a second for the Hammers!!

A. HUGE. GOAL. FOR. WEST. HAM!!!

42nd min: West Ham almost carve out an immediate second as Tomas Soucek heads Bowen's free kick back across goal but Lyon react well and clear up.

38th min: WEST HAM LEAD!!!!!

*Video available in USA

*Video available in UK

West Ham take the lead in Lyon!!!!!

Fornals' neat corner to the front post is glanced home by Dawson!!!! 1-0 West Ham!!

29th min: Lyon now click back into gear at the other end as Malo Gusto's cross ricochets off Ekambi but Areola grabs the loose ball.

25th min: Another great chance for West Ham as Antonio dinks a cross to the back post but Jarrod Bowen cannot steer his stretching volley back on target.

22th min: First booking of the night as Diop scythes down Ekambi.

20th min: First chance for West Ham as Ben Johnson's cross is only half cleared by the Lyon defence by Pablo Fornals scuffed shot is easily gathered in by Julian Pollersbeck.

19th min: It has been ALL Lyon so far as West Ham dig in

12th min: Another chance for Lyon as Moussa Dembele almost pounces as West Ham fail to clear their lines inside the box but Craig Dawson eventually hacks clear.

8th min: Big News from Catalonia

The winners from tonight's clash in Lyon will face either Barcelona or Eintracht Frankfurt in the last four and the Bundesliga side have taken a shock lead at the Camp Nou!

5th min: HUGE CHANCE FOR LYON!!!

Toko Ekambi tricked his way past two West Ham challenges inside the box and his fierce drive bounces back off Alphonse Areola's post!!!!

KICK-OFF: WE ARE OFF IN LYON!!!

Manuel Lanzini is straight into the action as he races clear and fires wide but the the offside flag it up against the Hammers star!!

Bright start for West Ham!!

10 mins to kick-off: All set at the Groupama Stadium

20 mins to kick-off: A Big Challenge ahead for Antonio and co.

50 mins to kick-off: THREE CHANGES FOR LYON

Second choice stopper Julian Pollersbeck replaces Lopes in goal with Jason Denayer in for Jerome Boateng in defence. Toko Ekambi comes in for Paqueta in a rejigged midfield unit on the night.

1 hour to kick-off: TEAM NEWS IS IN

Four changes from the first leg for Moyes as West Ham push for history in France.

Coufal, Diop and Johnson come into the back four in place of Ryan Fredericks, Zouma and Cresswell with Manuel Lanzini preferred to Said Benrahma in midfield.

1 hour 30 mins to kick-off: Defensive dilemmas for David Moyes

The absences of Aaron Cresswell and Kurt Zouma will leave a major hole in West Ham's defence tonight as David Moyes aim to  plug a gap in his back four.

Zouma's absence is eased slightly by the return from injury of Issa Diop, as Moyes preferred him to Zouma during the group stages. 

However, a clear replacement at left back is less clear with Cresswell starting seven of the Hammers nine European games this season.

Ben Johnson could start as a replacement with Czech Republic international Vladimir Coufal at right back for Moyes.


1 hour 45 mins to kick-off: The Calm before the STORM in Lyon

2 hours to kick-off: Hammers fans will be hoping for another memorable night in Europe

Lyon vs. West Ham lineups

Lyon boss Peter Bosz has added another absentee to a growing injury list, with first-choice goalkeeper Antony Lopes out and midfield star Lucas Paqueta only fit enough for the bench.

Lyon starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Pollersbeck (GK) — Emerson, Denayer, Lukeba, Gusto — Mendes, Ndombele — Ekambi, Aouar, Faivre — Dembele

Lyon subs (12): M Barcola (GK), Bonnevie (GK), Henrique, Da Silva, Boateng, Dubois, Keita, Paqueta, Adelaide, Kadewere, B Barcola, Tete

Moyes is without two key defenders, with Kurt Zouma joining centre-back partner Angelo Ogbonna is missing the rest of the season, and Aaron Cresswell is suspended following his first-leg red card.

West Ham starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Areola (GK) — Johnson, Dawson, Diop, Coufal — Rice, Soucek — Lanzini, Fornals, Bowen — Antonio

West Ham subs (12): Randolph (GK), Fabianski (GK), Masuaku, Fredericks, Kral, Alese, Vlasic, Noble, Perkins, Yarmolenko, Chesters. Benrahma

MORE: Europa League prize money breakdown

Feargal Brennan

Feargal Brennan Photo

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.