Spurs loanee Ndombele denies 10-man Hammers’ first-leg win after a Bowen goal and Creswell’s red card

NEVER has a cheeky wink gone down so badly in East London.

In first-half injury time, Lyon striker Moussa Dembele was about to get up after Aaron Creswell was sent off – before winking at his mates. Cristiano Ronaldo– esk.

4

4

4

A cacophony of boos filled the London stadium.

David Moys pricked up his ears and snarled and snarled at German referee Felix Zwayer from the sidelines.

west hams The greatest night of all – a first major European quarter-final in 41 years – appeared to be ruined by French dark arts and a grinning, relentless Dembele.

But West Ham’s brave, inexperienced ten men would never throw in the towel, especially a team so desperate to outshine their EURO 1981 heroes, Billy Bonds and company.

Despite all the chances, Jarrod Bowen rose seven minutes after the break and took advantage of a mistake by veteran Jerome Boateng to turn that crazy first leg on its head.

Ironically, Lyon was the one to pull off every time-wasting trick in the book before Dembele fell to the ground from last man Creswell’s gentlest touches.

They couldn’t handle the courage and bravery with which the hosts opened this end-to-end European classic of a game.

But a goal down and a player in the lead, the visitors had to play – and were rewarded in the 66th minute Tottenham loanee Tanguy Ndombele tapped home on his return to London.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100 GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (T&Cs apply)

Dembele’s mischief seemed to have been enough as Lyon escaped this encounter at eye level.

But boss Moyes should be buoyed by his team’s reaction and believe they can still retaliate in the Grand Stade de Lyon cauldron next week

The fact that the players showed up on the pitch a few minutes late at kick-off only caused the home crowd to raise their voices – which overshadowed the atmosphere created for the Sevilla clash.

But for all the talk of staying calm and not losing the first leg, just like their 1981 Cup Winners’ Cup idols did at home against Dinamo Tbilisi, the hosts fired from the blocks.

That’s perhaps why Lyon insisted on slowing down the game with a lot of ‘injuries’.

But West Ham fought back with effective counterattacks provided by Said Benrahma, Michail Antonio and several good chances Declan Rice.

But then came the devilish Dembele. After being put through by Houssem Aouar and walking away from goal, the Frenchman waited for Cresswell’s hand to graze his body.

Down he went and up went the red card to Creswell’s horror.

Moyes sank to his hips and was himself shown yellow for his desperate appeals.

Ben Johnson replaced Benrahma to shore things up but no one told Bowen that – he used a sloppy defense to see his punch deflect over Anthony Lopes.

Lyon took their time to reply but did so effectively when presented with a chance.

4

Ryan Fredericks couldn’t clear a ball off his own line after a save from Alphonse Areola.

It wouldn’t be a European draw with West Ham without drama and after Andriy Yarmolenko wins against Sevilla in overtime Last month, with eight minutes of added time, it felt like another was on the way.

Remarkably, it was a few home fans who disrupted their rhythm with two idiot fans invading the pitch – the latter interrupting a promising West Ham counterattack.

But for all their frustrations, West Ham survive to go again.

The history boys are still in with a call for a European semi-final.