Leverkusen (from our reporter) – From the first minute, all Czechs who were available ran onto the lawn of the packed BayArena. In the colors of Leverkusen, Matěj Kovář and Patrik Schick started, on the other side, Vladimír Coufal and Tomáš Souček. Only the injured forward of the German national team Adam Hložek was missing.
Both Leverkusen compatriots got up to operating temperature quickly. After seven minutes, Schick was responsible for the first chance of the leader of the German league, but goalkeeper Lukasz Fabiański eliminated a skilful run with his foot. A moment later, Kovář made a routine save after a break by West Ham and a shot by Kudus.
Photo: Martin Meissner, CTK/AP
Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick and his shot attempt in the match against West Ham.
After that, they launched the home offensive carousel and practically did not lend the ball to the opponents until the break. But the wizard Fabiański refused to capitulate.
Shelling Amine Adli? The famous robinsonade. Alex Grimaldo’s cannon? Another tiger jump, only to the opposite side. Schick’s low shot, heading squarely into the bottom corner? Nothing again. The Polish veteran embellished the phenomenal first half with a strike against Edmond Tapsoba’s shot from outside the box. It was goalless at halftime thanks to the goalie, who will celebrate his thirty-ninth birthday next Thursday.
The second act was also in the spirit of the home team’s optical pressure, but against an honest defense at first they got into fewer shooting positions. Coufal also took away the hearty approach, whose sharp cross from Alex Grimaldo hit the temple and doctors had to rush to the field.
Photo: Thilo Schmuelgen, Reuters
Vladimír Coufal thanks the fans.
Leverkusen then started to press West Ham again. Schick came close to breaking through the solid defense twenty minutes before the end, but Fabiański shone even against his header under the crossbar.
Just when it seemed that Leverkusen would not see joy, the BayArena erupted in cheers. Substitute Jonas Hofmann found a bounced ball in the penalty area and from the first shot through the thick wall of the visiting bodies, even the bullet-proof veteran. Moments later, Johnatan Tah could have added a safety, but his shot was kicked from the goal line by Souček.
Photo: Wolfgang Rattay, Reuters
Leverkusen’s players celebrate the goal.
However, the dominant Leverkusen doubled their lead anyway. Victor Boniface, who replaced Schick at the point with a quarter of an hour to go, headed Hofmann’s cross in stoppage time to close the scoring. The German team is thus two goals closer to the semi-finals.
