Slaven Bilic’s side had taken a 2-0 lead at Upton Park, with Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate on the scoresheet, but James Collins’ sending off sparked a remarkable comeback
Agencies
London, July 31
West Ham threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Romanian side Astra Giurgiu in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round clash on Thursday.
Goals from Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate had given the Hammers a seemingly comfortable lead, though James Collins was sent off for a second yellow card in the 59th minute, prompting a remarkable comeback.
Fernando Boldrin pulled a goal back with a stunning 71st minute strike from range, before Angelo Ogbonna netted an embarrassing own goal with eight minutes to play to level the scores.
It leaves new West Ham boss Bilic – who himself was sent to the stands late on – with plenty to ponder ahead of the Premier League season with the injury-enforced withdrawals of Joey O’Brien and Valencia adding to a frustrating evening at Upton Park.As part of a dominant first-half display, the hosts made much of the early running with lively debutant Dimitri Payet showing why West Ham paid an eight-figure fee for him.
Zarate – seemingly brought in from the cold by Bilic after a loan spell at QPR last term – saw two shots blocked in quick succession as West Ham applied further pressure, although they were caught napping when Astra midfielder Filipe Teixeira found the side-netting following a quick break.
However, Payet helped give West Ham the lead when he crossed for Valencia to power home at the far post.
Despite Valencia and O’Brien being forced off, West Ham continued to threaten after the break and Zarate doubled their advantage by jinking past two Astra defenders before beating Silviu Lung to give his side some breathing space.
The Argentine was thwarted in his search for a second as things seemed to be heading to a natural conclusion for the hosts, before Collins picked up the second of his bookings and joined Diafra Sakho and James Tomkins in seeing red in Europe.
Skipper Budescu found the top of the net with the resulting free-kick while Boldrin’s corner was flicked on and blocked on the line by Mark Noble as the visitors sought to press home their numerical advantage.
And when Boldrin was afforded time and space to shoot, the Brazilian found the net from distance via the underside of the crossbar to give Astra an away goal to return home with.
However, it was to get better for Marius Sumudica’s men when Ogbonna tried to clear a low cross, only to shin the ball past Adrian, levelling matters ahead of the second leg next week.
Pelle & Long help Saints to routine win
Ronald Koeman’s side recorded a comfortable victory over the Dutch side in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round clash at St Mary’s on Thursday
Goals from Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Shane Long gave Southampton a comfortable 3-0 win over Vitesse in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round clash on Thursday.
Pelle opened the scoring with a vicious first-half strike, before Tadic doubled his side’s lead from the penalty spot after Sadio Mane was fouled in the area.
Long then completed the rout with a simple header in the dying stages following a superb Juanmi cross.
The result gives Koeman’s team a comfortable lead to defend when they head to Arnhem for the second leg, having displayed admirable fitness and composure in their first competitive game of the season.
The hosts improved as the game wore on, having shown initial signs of nerves while Vitesse created the better of the early openings.
Georgian striker Valeri Kazaishvili gave Southampton a wake-up call when he latched onto a long ball and managed to get away from his marker before dragging a shot just wide of Maarten Stekelenburg’s post.
As the home side settled, Maya Yoshida should have done better from a Steven Davis corner, and an even better chance followed when Victor Wanyama found himself with time and space inside the box, but the Kenyan’s aim was poor and Vitesse goalkeeper Eloy Room made a relatively simple save.
The Premier League side found their rhythm by the half-hour mark, and Davis stung Room’s hands when he arrowed a fierce shot from just outside the box.
Southampton’s dominance paid off when Cedric broke down the right flank and fed Mane, whose simple pass into the box left Pelle with only Room to beat, and he did so with an instinctive shot that flashed into the top of the net.
On the cusp of half-time, the hosts doubled their lead, as Mane was brought down in the box by Rochdi Achenteh, and Tadic made no mistake with the spot kick.
On-loan Stekelenburg, making his Southampton debut, enjoyed a quiet game until Danilo Pantic broke through after 70 minutes, but the Dutchman was alert to the task, saving low to his right.
Vitesse substitute Milot Rashica missed a clear chance, sending a volley over the bar from 10 yards out when a more accurate shot might have put his side right back in the tie.
Moments later, second-half substitute Long broke clear of the defence and was denied by Room, but fellow replacement Juanmi flicked the loose ball back to the Irishman and he made no mistake with a close-range header.
