Oliver Glasner's aspect arrived at the London Stadium as underdogs towards a West Ham team playing their first-class season for years. But Ansgar Knauff gave Frankfurt the perfect start with a purpose after just forty nine seconds. Michail Antonio equalised along with his first aim in eleven suits, but Kamada bagged the winner with a close-range end within the 2d 1/2.
Frankfurt have struggled at instances within the Bundesliga this season, saving their pleasant performances for Europe. They had already shocked Barcelona within the zone-finals and this changed into some other memorable overall performance, placing them in pole position to reach the very last against RB Leipzig or Rangers.
Frankfurt, whose best important European name got here in the 1980 UEFA Cup, can finish the activity once they host the second leg on May fifth. Back in 1976, West Ham defeated Frankfurt four-3 on combination within the European Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals.
Hoping to reach their first fundamental European very last when you consider that then, West Ham will need to level an impressive break out act in Frankfurt to emulate that fulfillment.
In their first semi-very last because the 2014 League Cup, West Ham welcomed lower back Kurt Zouma from an ankle problem after Moyes had feared he might have only one suit centre-back due to injuries. Despite Zouma's presence, West Ham's defence changed into breached after much less than a minute.
Rafael Borre changed into given far an excessive amount of time and space on the edge of the location and he ruthlessly exploited West Ham's hesitancy. Borre's pin-point cross arrowed towards the a ways post, wherein Knauff got in the back of the drowsing Pablo Fornals and thumped a effective header beyond Alphonse Areola from close range.
It became the fastest ever aim scored in a Europa League semi-very last and West Ham understandably appeared shell-bowled over. Moyes gestured to his players to relax as passes went off course of their anxiety to get lower back into the tie.
Jarrod Bowen should have eased West Ham's nerves when he surged onto Fornals' defence-splitting bypass, but the winger was left keeping his head in frustration after his low strike hit the put up. Undeterred by means of their nightmare start, West Ham began to turn the screw and Antonio ensured their pressure repay with the 21st-minute equaliser.
Zouma rose maximum to move Manuel Lanzini's free-chill across goal and Antonio pounced with a stretching volley from really on the road. Frankfurt wasted a golden possibility to retake the lead simply before half-time whilst Knauff raced onto Borre's via ball, handiest to look his preliminary attempt blocked earlier than he skied the comply with-up over the bar.
