The defender was sent off early on in the second leg
Fans have criticised West Ham United left-back Aaron Cresswell for getting sent off in the first half as the Hammers exited the Europa League at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt.
West Ham – who came into the tie trailing 2-1 on aggregate after the first leg – were reduced to 10-men just 19 minutes into the semi-final second leg after a sloppy challenge from Cresswell.
The 32-year-old pulled Jens Petter Hauge down as the Frankfurt forward raced through on goal. Referee Jesus Gil Manzano initially gave the West Ham man a yellow card, but following a VAR check, he upgraded the punishment to red with Cresswell adjudged to be denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
A terrible start for West Ham as they are reduced to 10 men…
After a VAR check, Aaron Cresswell's yellow card for bringing down Jens Petter Hauge was upgraded to a red 🟥#UEL pic.twitter.com/ZHaPo6zjHC
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 5, 2022
Cresswell was sent off for a similar offence in the first leg of West Ham’s quarter-final triumph over Lyon, but David Moyes’ side were able to snatch a 1-1 draw at home before winning 3-0 at the Groupama Stadium.
Frankfurt made the most of their advantage and took the lead through Rafael Santos Borré in the 26th minute. Later in the match, Hammers boss Moyes was sent off for kicking the ball in frustration after there was a delay in retrieving it.
Another red card for West Ham…
This time it's for David Moyes! 😳
The manager smashes the ball back in anger and is sent down the tunnel… #UEL pic.twitter.com/YYTZrqp2dg
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 5, 2022
The home side were able to comfortably see out the remainder of the tie and secure their place in the Europa League final, where they will face off against Rangers later this month.
How did social media react?
Not well.
One fan wrote: “@Aaron_Cresswell you’re a f**king disgrace mate. What is you f**king problem. You’ve fu**ed up anything you ever achieved in 8 years at our club. Just f**k off now.”
@Aaron_Cresswell you're a fucking disgrace mate. What is you fucking problem. You've fucked up anything you ever achieved in 8 years at our club. Just fuck off now.
— DB (@Dberslike) May 5, 2022
Another added: “Aaron Cresswell’s one man mission to get West Ham knocked out of the Europa League is really, really funny.”
https://twitter.com/AGG1_/status/1522297602561220610
Journalist and author Daniel Storey wrote: “You’d at least think that Aaron Cresswell might have learnt his lesson after being sent off for a last-man shirt pull against Lyon.”
You'd at least think that Aaron Cresswell might have learnt his lesson after being sent off for a last-man shirt pull against Lyon.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) May 5, 2022
Another added: “What is it about Aaron Cresswell that you can’t have an opinion against the bloke. He is a dreadful defender and is targeted by oppositions weekly. Total and utter liability. He didn’t learn from Lyon. We need a new left back in the Summer absolutely no question. He’s finished.”
What is it about Aaron Cresswell that you can’t have an opinion against the bloke. He is a dreadful defender and is targeted by oppositions weekly. Total and utter liability. He didn’t learn from Lyon.
We need a new left back in the Summer absolutely no question. He’s finished.
— Wᴇsᴛ Hᴀᴍ Sᴏᴄɪᴀʟ (@WestHamSocial) May 5, 2022
A fifth person said: “Can not believe I’m seeing people defending Aaron Cresswell, what he has done tonight is UNFORGIVABLE. He made the same mistake in the last round and it nearly cost us and this time round it has cost us. It’s not a mistake when you do it twice.”
Can not believe I’m seeing people defending Aaron Cresswell, what he has done tonight is UNFORGIVABLE. He made the same mistake in the last round and it nearly cost us and this time round it has cost us. Its not a mistake when you do it twice.
— Callum Endean-Coyle ⚒ (@CalEndeanCoyle) May 5, 2022
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