West Ham player ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen: Michail Antonio bullies defence with Mohammed Kudus a huge threat

West Ham’s hopes of an epic European comeback came up just short as Bayer Leverkusen battled through to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday night.

Trailing 2-0 on aggregate after last week’s first-leg defeat in Germany, the Hammers gave themselves hope of a remarkable turnaround when Michail Antonio headed in from Jarrod Bowen’s cross inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

The hosts produced a defiant show and threatened a leveller before Jeremie Frimpong’s late clincher ultimately sealed the deal for the Germans and preserved their 44-match unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw.

Here’s how David Moyes’s side rated at the London Stadium...

Lukasz Fabiański 6

Alert to deny Tella from long range but otherwise untested in the first-half. No chance with Frimpong’s deflected strike.

Vladimir Coufal 7

Leverkusen’s left-flank had been a big source of joy in the first-leg but not here. Booked for dissent.

Kurt Zouma 7

Commanding stuff from the captain, who picked his moments to step in wisely. Kept Schick quiet and then dealt with a very different threat in Boniface after the break. Booked for dissent.

Nayef Aguerd 6

Could not have guessed how little defending he would have to do as West Ham dominated first-half. Limped off just before half-time with ankle problem.

Aaron Cresswell 6

You worried he might be exposed at left-back but did a grand job, including crucial clearance to deny Frimpiong tap-in clincher.

Tomas Soucek 7

A solid display from the Czech, though West Ham could have done with someone with a little more craft on the odd occasion he picked up the ball in the final third.

Edson Alvarez 8

How he was missed when suspended in Germany. Read the game superbly to allow team-mates to go hell-for-leather in the press.

James Ward-Prowse 7

A cracking shift, pushed higher up the pitch to co-ordinate West Ham’s press, which was so effective early on.

Jarrod Bowen 8

Fit enough to start and made the opening goal with a terrific delivery. So close to a second soon after but denied on the volley. Booked for dissent.

Michail Antonio 8

Scored the opener with a strong header and bullied Kossounou to the extent the centre-back was dragged inside half-an-hour. Hugely frustrated in second-half when Tapsoba fouls went unpunished. Booked.

Mohammed Kudus 8

Leverkusen could not lay a glove on him as he led the drive through midfield and from out wide. Fine cross made Bowen chance.

Substitutes

Angelo Ogbonna (Aguerd 45’) 7

Had played just one minute of football since January but did not let anyone down.

Maxwel Cornet (Alvarez 84’) N/A

Ben Johnson (Coufal 84’) N/A

Unused: Anang, Knightsbridge, Casey, Orford, Dwyer, Ings, Mubama