Mueez Ajao
– Eintracht Frankfurt winger Ansgar Knauff opened the scoring in the first minute as they beat West Ham United 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal on Thursday, with both teams seeking their first European final in over 40 years.
– The visitors stunned David Moyes’ men 49 seconds into the first half when Rafael Borre set up Knauff with a cross from the corner of the box and the 20-year-old headed home, silencing the sold-out 60 000 crowd at the London Stadium.
– The Premier League side equalised 20 minutes later, after Kurt Zouma connected with the free kick and nodded on to forward Michail Antonio who made it 1-1 from close range.
Also Read: Frankfurt knock Barcelona out of Europa League
– But Eintracht regained the lead in the 54th, as West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola stopped a shot by midfielder Djibril Sow but did not manage to save the follow-up strike by Daichi Kamada, who scored his fifth Europa League goal this season.
– Rangers must come from behind if they are to reach their first European final in 14 years after a resolute showing was undone by a late RB Leipzig wonder strike in their Europa League semi-final first leg.
– The Bundesliga hosts were limited in their opportunities but take a slender lead to Glasgow thanks to a stunning Angelino volley five minutes from time.
– Ryan Kent flashed a rare chance wide for Rangers, but Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side will have hope the tie can be salvaged at Ibrox.
– For large spells, their performance in Germany was composed and resolute, with a vocal home crowd growing all the more frustrated as time ebbed away before a goal that illuminated an otherwise tense tie.
– But it will be Rangers hoping to call upon a raucous Ibrox next Thursday as a night of drama and tension is teed up in Govan.
