West Ham United claimed an away goal but could not hold on for victory as they were made to settle for a 1-1 draw against Astra Giurgiu in the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie.
Denis Alibec blasted home in the final 10 minutes at the Stadionul Marin Anastasovici to give his side real hope heading into next week's return match in East London.
A penalty late in the first half from Mark Noble had earlier given the Hammers a deserved lead, but they could not hold on for the remainder to see the tie now left in the balance.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded in Romania with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Europa League playoff first-leg tie between Astra Giurgu and West Ham United at the Stadionul Marin Anastasovici. The Hammers make the voyage to Romania for the second time in a little over 12 months, having exited this competition at the third-qualifying round at the hands of the same opponents last season.
Unlike 12 months ago in that eventual 4-3 defeat over two legs, West Ham are in a much stabler position this time around. Boss Slaven Bilic has had an entire year to work his magic on this Hammers side, with that job continuing into this summer thanks to the arrival of seven new faces. How many of those new additions will we see this evening? Let us check out some team news...
TEAM NEWS!
ASTRA GIURGU XI: Lung, Vangjeli, Alves, Fabricio, Junior Morais, Sapunaru, Lovin, Ionita, Seto, Filipe Teixeira, Niculae
WEST HAM UNITED XI: Randolph, Byram, Oxford, Ogbonna, Burke, Obiang, Noble, Antonio, Valencia, Tore, Calleri
Bilic already confirmed in the build-up to tonight's game that Darren Randolph would deputise in goal for Adrian, who drops down to the bench in Romania. The best news from a West Ham perspective is that Michail Antonio is pushed into his favoured wing role, having been used heavily as a full-back of late to the real disappointment of supporters. The former Nottingham Forest man conceded a penalty against Chelsea a few days back, but there is less chance of a repeat this evening.
The latest of West Ham's summer signings, loanee Jonathan Calleri, is handed his first start for the club up top in place of the benched Andy Carroll. Gokhan Tore, Enner Valencia and Antonio will provide support from what appears to be a three-man attacking midfield, while Pedro Obiang and skipper Mark Noble will sit slightly deeper to protect the back four.
Youngster Reece Burke comes in at full-back, with Sam Byram on the right. There is a starting role in the heart of defence for Reece Oxford once more, meanwhile, with the academy product expected to be thrown in more often this campaign in order to fends off rumoured suitors such as Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal. The experience is provided by Angelo Ogbonna, meanwhile, who may have a busy evening on his hands.
In terms of the hosts, they no longer have Constantin Budescu among their ranks. The 27-year-old, who scored two goals against the Hammers the last time they met here, was the subject of a bid by rivals Steaua Bucuresti which was turned down, but a few months later he joined Chinese League One club Dalian Yifang F.C. for an undisclosed fee. Former Romania international Daniel Niculae is now tasked with netting the goals.
BENCH WATCH!
ASTRA GIURGU SUBS: Gavrilas, Alibec, Florea, Oros, Mansaly, Stan, Balaure
WEST HAM UNITED SUBS: Adrian, Collins, Reid, Browne, Fletcher, Carroll
Both central defenders James Collins and Winston Reid drop down to the bench for West Ham, then, while Adrian and Carroll are also rested. Carroll may be called upon at some stage should the Hammers be chasing a goal, but Bilic would of course rather turn to the likes of Ashley Fletcher - a summer arrival from Manchester United - and academy star Marcus Browne.
West Ham United are without a number of first-team players this evening, including club-record purchase Andre Ayew who is expected to miss the remainder of the year through a thigh injury. The Ghanian hobbled off 35 minutes into his Hammers debut against Chelsea, and supporters' worst fears were confirmed this morning when co-chairman David Gold tweeted an update on his lengthy layoff.
The other enforced changes this evening are largely down to injury issues, with Sofiane Feghouli - a scorer in the last round of this competition - joining Manuel Lanzini and Aaron Cresswell on the sidelines. Arthur Masuaku was brought in to cover for another absentee in Aaron Cresswell, but he is also forced to sit this one out because he is cup-tied. The final exclusion tonight is Dimitri Payet, who is still not yet at peak fitness following his extended summer break.
The mounting injury problems, particularly the one sustained by £20m Ayew, will no doubt be giving Bilic a headache at this early stage of the campaign. With a gruelling campaign ahead should they overcome Astra in the next seven days, the Croatian coach may well be forced to delve back into the market for another proven striker. Andy Carroll enjoyed a positive enough pre-season and managed to stay fit, but can the Hammers rely on him for the duration?
We very much saw the best and the worst of United in reaching this stage of the competition, as they succumbed to a really disappointing 2-1 defeat to NK Domzale in the first leg of the third-qualifying round before battling back with a 3-0 second-leg win. Nothing but a positive team display would have sufficed in that return leg, what with it being the first official match to be staged at the Olympic Stadium since West Ham were handed residency.
Since then the Hammers have also played another opening game at their new home, this one the 'official, official' opening, which ended in a 3-2 defeat to Juventus. Again, there was plenty to take away from that match as far as Bilic was concerned, as he saw his Carroll-inspired side battle back from two behind before succumbing to a late third in East London.
All that was in preparation for the Premier League opener with Chelsea on Monday, which so nearly ended with United claiming a decent away point. James Collins emphatically levelled for his side after Eden Hazard had tucked away a penalty, but up popped Diego Costa - who many felt should not have remained on the pitch - to earn three points for the Blues. West Ham now have a chance to bounce back with games against Bournemouth and Manchester City prior to the international break.
Already it is quite clear to see that this is going to be a gruelling campaign for West Ham should they indeed progress through, with this the second of three games in the space of six days. Throw the travelling, and therefore the lack of training, into the mix and you begin to see why so many teams struggle to balance European and domestic commitments over the course of a season. But this is very much progression for United, who see this as a stepping stone for Champions League football in the years to come.
West Ham hardly boast the finest of European records in recent times, particularly away from home where they have lost five of their last six. That one sole victory came last season when seeing off minnows FC Lusitanos of Andorra, before being beat by Astra in the following round. Bilic, speaking ahead of tonight's game, mentioned that there is a 'big hype' currently surrounding his side, so victory over these two legs is a must to keep that feel-good factor going.
DID YOU KNOW? Astra Giurgu are unbeaten in their last six European fixtures on home soil, including qualifiers, winning three and drawing three during that run. They only actually reached the third-qualifying round last season due to rivals FC Cluj being expelled from competing in the competition, and once overcoming West Ham a disappointing defeat to AZ followed in the playoffs.
The hosts certainly do not head into this game with too much momentum on their side, having won only one of their opening four league games. The defending Liga 1 champions did pick up that victory last time out, however, seeing off Poli Timisoara to get their domestic campaign back on track. Now down in ninth, Marius Sumudica must keep his side focused for this two-legged tie.
Slaven Bilic saw his side's hopes of contesting European football in his first campaign in East London come to a surprise end at the hands of Astra 12 months ago. The Croatian enjoyed an impressive domestic campaign, however, guiding his side to seventh place in the league and securing another crack at qualifying for the Europa League through a more direct route, rather than via UEFA's Fair Play league.
Astra were on course to reaching the Champions League thanks to their domestic success last term, although they could not build on a 1-1 first-leg draw with Copenhagen in the qualifying stages as they fell to a 4-1 aggregate defeat. It has now been six European ties without a clean sheet for them, spanning back to both games against the Hammers last year when they scrapped through to the next stage.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Like London busses, you wait 100 years for a West Ham vs. Astra Giurgu fixture to come along.... From never previously facing off to now preparing for their third and fourth meetings against each other, these two sides are now starting to get a little familiar. The first leg at Upton Park last July ended 2-2, with Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate seeing their goals cancelled out in the final 20 minutes.
The damage was pretty much done in the final quarter of that home leg for the Hammers, but still they battled on in Romania and claimed a crucial early away goal via Manuel Lanzini - injured tonight - to leave themselves on the brink of progression. Then came a double from the aforementioned Budescu to send the Liga 1 outfit into the playoff round where they would eventually meet their match in AZ.
With a little under 15 minutes to go until kickoff at the Stadionul Marin Anastasovici, lets us check out some of the pre-match thoughts from the West Ham United camp.
Slaven Bilic: "Everyone at the club wants to participate. It is a great experience for the players to participate in different countries. We have a big job to do against the Romanian champions. I know there are many players from last year and a lot of international players. For me they played a good game against Copenhagen at home and I know how good the teams from Romania can be."
Darren Randolph: "Playing at the Euros against those teams and players can only help you when you perform at that level and give you confidence. If we can get into the group stages it will be good for me and the rest of the players who have worked just as hard. It is a great experience for us to play in different countries and sample different atmospheres. It will only benefit the team."
Randolph, given the nod tonight in place of the rested Adrian, talking there about the importance of building up experience in this European environment. The Republic of Ireland international has more experience than most, of course, having represented his country at the recent European Championship finals. That is an interesting battle to keep an eye on in the early stages of this season, with Randolph being given the chance tonight to wrestle the gloves back from Adrian.
Bilic, on the other hand, talked pre-match about the task facing his side this evening. West Ham, who finished seventh in the Premier League last term, really must fancy their chances over the two legs but it remains to be seen exactly what a good result would be in this opening 90-minute battle. A draw would not be a bad result to take back to the English capital, while an away goal would be even more welcome.
PREDICTION! Following on from that last point, and based on the fact that this is far from a full-strength West Ham side, I am going to back the hosts to claim a 1-0 victory tonight. We saw goals aplenty in the first leg a little over a year ago, with a 2-2 draw in the final European match to be staged at Upton Park, so more of the same would certainly be appreciated tonight!
Both sets of players are preparing to now make their way out onto the field. The Hammers fell to defeat late on in their opening league fixture at Chelsea just a few days back, so no real surprise to see Bilic change things around tonight, but will the fringe players included be able to stake for a more-regular starting spot? Kickoff in Romania now a little over five minutes away.
Around 400 West Ham fans in Giurgiu this evening, incidentally, looking to take in an improved performance on 12 months ago. Momentum is so important at this early stage of the season, of course, so can the Hammers make it back-to-back wins in Europe heading into that Bournemouth match on Sunday - the first league game to be staged at their first Olympic Stadium home.
The West Ham fans are ready, and so too are both sets of players. Kickoff at the Stadionul Marin Anastasovici now just moments away...
KICKOFF! West Ham get us underway in Romania! Bilic has gone with a 4-4-2 formation, with Antonio wide left and Tore wide right, while Noble and Obiang will sit slightly deeper in the midfield engine room.
Astra looking to make some inroads in the early stages of the match, but Reece Burke stands strong when given his first test of the night. The home side's manager is in attendance on the touchline, incidentally, despite being handed a two-month ban domestically speaking.
Couple of early shots off target from the hosts, the latest coming via Teixeira who blasted his volley well wide of the goal when in an awkward position inside the visitors' box. Some early warning signs for Bilic & Co.
Calleri still waiting to be involved in this game, which Astra are enjoying the better of in the opening seven minutes or so. Antonio looks to wrestle back some control of the game but overruns the ball when taking on Vangjeli down the right.
SAVE! I mentioned that Calleri has barely had a touch so far, well he has just managed to get on the end of Noble's deep cross which was headed into the ground and collected by Lung in the Astra goal.
OFF THE LINE! West Ham incredibly close to an opener at the Stadionul Marin, as Antonio gets on the end of a corner and powers his header towards goal. The Astra defence were nowhere to be seen, bar one player who was left on the post to clear away on the line.
Yet another half chance for West Ham, who are really beginning to turn the screw now. Tore managed to beat his man out wide and swing in a cross for Oxford to loop his headed attempt over the bar. The Hammers should have little issue bagging an away goal at this rate.
SAVE! A frenetic start to this contest at both ends, as Teixeira again takes on a shot from inside the box which this time forces a save out of Randolph. The stand-in keeper rather spilled the ball, but no home player could pounce.
Three of these Astra players featured for Romania at Euro 2016, including goalkeeper Silviu Lung. He was absolutely nowhere to be seen for that headed Antonio chance a few minutes back, with his blushes spared by a defender on the line.
Valencia has been down for the past minute or so receiving some treatment following a collision. Looked to have opened up high knee a little, but looks to be OK to continue for now. More injuries is the last thing Bilic will want this evening.
Less action over the past six or seven minutes as the game moves into a more familiar pattern, but Bilic will be more than happy by what he has seen so far. The closest either side has come to opening the scoring arrived 11 minutes in when Antonio's header was cleared off the line.
Niculae with a really good cross into the box from the right, which is cleared away by a claret and blue shirt. West Ham just need to find some momentum once again in this match, with the hosts just starting to grow into things a little more.
Calleri has had just the one touch so far by my reckoning - not ideal for the player leading your line! Antonio and Tore the men supplying the ammunition, with Valencia playing just off the latest addition to the Hammers' ranks.
Burke, player of the year at Bradford last season, is doing well in the early stages here and gets forward to win his side a corner. The ball was cleared away as far as Obiang, who hooked it back in towards Burke only for the offside flag to go up.
CHANCE! Astra's best chance yet falls the way of Seto, who can only guide his volley wide when picked out completely unmarked inside the box by Ionita. Oxford has now given away a free kick in a dangerous position which was sent right down the middle for Randolph to collect.
So Astra enjoying the better of things over the past couple of minutes, then, with that Seto near-miss and a free kick down the middle from Ionita. United have had their own chances, neither of which they could take, and now all of a sudden it is very evenly poised.
Teixeira is a real threat, charging down the left flank and forcing Byram to pull back on his short to halt the run. The referee lets the West Ham full-back off on this occasion, despite that being a caution nine times out of 10.
Unbelievable play from Antonio, who wins the ball back for his side before finding some space and sending a delightful ball through for Valencia. The forward can only win a corner from the promising position, which is sent to Noble to blast over.
SHOT! It has certainly not been a boring half of football, despite the goalless scoreline. Junior Morais is the latest to try his luck, sending a shot right down the middle for Randolph to collect from 35 yards out.
West Ham again see a promising attacking move break down when Valencia takes on the wrong decision. Not sure if he was looking to take on the shot or pick out a teammate, but in the end his does neither and Astra clear their lines.
CLOSE! Time running out for one of these sides to make a breakthrough in this first half. West Ham so close to finding that opener from yet another right-sided cross, as Tore's corner is met by Calleri who heads down for Lung to save.
YELLOW CARD! Sam Byram earns the game's first challenge from a sliding challenge that just halted Astra's counter. The full-back was a little lucky to avoid a yellow, remember, so he must be careful. The hosts want a penalty but contact was minimal inside the box.
PENALTY TO WEST HAM UNITED!
Another Tore cross delivered into a promising position, which this time Sapunaru can only clear with his hand! Mark Noble now with a chance to make it 14 converted penalties out of 15.
GOAL! ASTRA GIURGU 0-1 WEST HAM UNITED (MARK NOBLE, PEN)
Noble does indeed keep up that near-perfect spot-kick record by sending the ball right down the middle. A horrible penalty for the hosts to concede, gifting West Ham a potentially crucial away goal deep into the first half.
HALF TIME: ASTRA GIURGU 0-1 WEST HAM UNITED
So West Ham United lead 1-0 at the interval in Giurgiu courtesy of a Mark Noble penalty deep into the first half. It was an entertaining opening 45 minutes; a half in which both teams had chances to take the lead before United skipper Noble converted his 14th pen out of 15.
Silviu Lung, on of three home players who formed part of Romania's Euro 2016 squad this summer, had to be alert to keep out a couple of headed attempts from debutant Jonathan Calleri in an entertaining opening 45 minutes in Romania. Michail Antonio was really enjoying his more familiar starting role on the wing, creating a couple of chances for his side and also seeing a header cleared away off the line 11 minutes in.
Attacking midfielder Filipe Teixeira was proving to be one of the hosts' more dangerous players, sending in one volleyed attempt from a difficult angle for Darren Randolph to collect after also drawing a foul out of Sam Byram. Giurgu's best chance of the first half fell the way of Takayuki Seto, who could only direct the ball wide when picked out completely unmarked inside the box by Alexandru Ionita.
Randolph, standing in for the rested Adrian this evening, had to make another stop to deny the Black Devils an opener when collecting Junior Morais's shot at the second attempt. It was West Ham who were to make the breakthrough right on the brink of half time when Cristian Sapunaru inexplicably handled Gokhan Tore's cross into the box, allowing Mark Noble to convert his 14th penalty out of the last 15.
West Ham ahead at the interval, then, but will Bilic stick or twist as the first leg transpires? Andy Carroll is among the subs, remember, as is former Manchester United youngster Ashley Fletcher.
ASTRA GIURGU SUBS: Gavrilas, Alibec, Florea, Oros, Mansaly, Stan, Balaure
WEST HAM UNITED SUBS: Adrian, Collins, Reid, Browne, Fletcher, Carroll
RESTART! Astra get us back up and running at the Stadionul Marin Anastasovici. No changes made by either manager at the break, so it is as you were in that regard for the opening stages of this second period.
United will just be looking to keep things tight for large parts of this second half and potentially nick a second on the break. Two away goals and a clean sheet would be close to a dream result for visiting boss Bilic.
Astra's attacking midfielders just looking to thread the ball through into the West Ham box, but to no avail at the moment. Oxford is needed to clear away a cross into the box following the hosts' latest promising move.
A good opportunity for the hosts as a corner is aimed towards the back post for Niculae to head back across goal, though it could not be met by any player in a white top. West Ham yet to wake up since emerging for the second half.
SHOT! The chances keep on coming in Romania, as Antonio shoots straight at Lung and Niculae lobs over when in a promising position. This contest surely has a second goal in it - whichever way it arrives may well be pivotal across the two legs.
YELLOW CARD! Calleri latches on to Obiang's pass and holds the ball up well before being joined by Antonio, whose shot is well closed down before reaching Lung. Kristi Vangjeli now cautioned for a stamp on Burke's foot.
Home fans calling for Alibec to be introduced, which Marinus Sumudica looks likely to bow to. A bit of movement in the home dugout so let's keep an eye on that one over the next few moments.
ASTRA GIURGU SUB! Denis Alibec, injured ta Euro 2016, does indeed come on for the remaining 30 minutes. Kristi Vangjeli makes way just moments after picking up that yellow card for a stamp on young full-back Burke.
Bilic deciding to keep his subs for a little later in the game, perhaps when looking to run the clock down and break up play a little more. Not a great deal of action over the past five minutes or so as West Ham sit comfortably on this 1-0 advantage.
WEST HAM UNITED SUBS! Andy Carroll and James Collins, both of whom started that Premier League opener against Chelsea, are brought on for the final 25 minutes in Romania. Valencia and Calleri the men to make way.
Both departing players a little underwhelming for me, which is more understandable in Calleri's case with this being his debut. Plenty to come from him I'm sure, but Valencia's scoring drought goes on in United colours. We will likely see him again next Thursday.
Been about 15 minutes since anything of note happened in the contest, which will suit West Ham more so than their opponents. Mark Noble's first-half penalty proving to be the difference as we approach the final quarter of the match in Southern Romania.
Astra with yet another attempt from range, as Morais blasts wide of Randolph's goal. West Ham will take that all day long, with yet more minutes eaten into in this opening 90-minute battle. Return leg to come in East London seven days from now.
YELLOW CARD! Really good play down the Astra left, culminating in a cross coming into the box for Oxford to deal with. Gerardo Alves is the latest home player to enter the referee's book after hauling down Carroll.
SAVE! A first chance of the night for substitute Denis Alibec, who shows great movement to get in behind the Hammers' backline but could only blast into the hands of Randolph. He takes his frustration out on the advertising hoardings around the pitch.
WEST HAM UNITED SUB! Final change of the evening made by Bilic, as Marcus Browne replaced Gokhan Tore. The 18-year-old midfielder will just add some fresh legs for these closing stages, with United falling deeper and deeper.
Alibec with another shot on target, which is incredibly weak and just trickles into the gloves of Randolph. I make that 10 attempts for the hosts now, but only a couple of those have truly troubled the Hammers' stand-in keeper.
Another promising Alibec attack ends with Oxford making a needless challenge out wide. A yellow card for the United defender, who just lacked the experience required there. United need to keep their heads for the remaining 10 minutes.
Job done for United if it remains this way, with an away goal in the bag and a clean sheet to go with it. Chances massively dried up in this second half, but in Alibec the Romanian outfit do have a real threat for the second 90-minute battle.
CHANCE! Home boss Sumudica is furious with his side, as another promising crossing opportunity goes begging. West Ham break from the corner through Browne, who unselfishly lays the ball on a plate for Antonio to fire home at the back stick. Antonio could only strike the side-netting, though, with the 450 travelling fans celebrating a tad prematurely.
GOAL! ASTRA GIURGU 1-1 WEST HAM UNITED (DENIS ALIBEC)
Alibec has been the game's standout player since coming on, and he is the man who bags the leveller late on here. The striker got the better of Collins at the front post once a corner came into the box, simply turning the Welshman and blasting home from close range.
Just 98 seconds between that Antonio back-post sitter and Alibec's leveller. How big a moment will that prove to be in this two-legged tie? Still a couple of minutes to go in Romania before attention can turn to that match in East London.
ASTRA GIURGU SUB! Daniel Florea is on for Alexandru Ionita to just see out the closing stages of the game. From being in a real promising position, West Ham now have plenty of work to do in seven days' time as we head into added time here.
Moments after Michail Antonio went into the referee's book, a cross come into the United box which was crying out for a touch. The hosts dominating the closing stages here, with West Ham perhaps now just praying for that full-time whistle.
FULL TIME: ASTRA GIURGU 1-1 WEST HAM UNITED
The full-time whistle sounds in Romania to bring a close to what was an entertaining game of football overall. West Ham United will perhaps be the more relieved to hear the whistle sound with the pressure constantly building at the end, and it is certainly not all bad news for them as they do take an away goal into the return leg courtesy of Mark Noble's penalty.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Stadionul Marin Anastasovici in Southern Romania. An on-the-whistle report can be viewed by clicking here, while reaction from the West Ham camp will follow in due course.
