West Ham United have missed the chance to progress further in the Europa League after slipping to a 2-1 defeat to Astra Giurgiu in Romania.
The two sides were level at 2-2 following last week's first-leg, and despite naming an experienced side, Slaven Bilic's team were ahead when debutant Manuel Lanzini fired home in the third minute.
However, Astra hit back before the break as Constantin Budescu twice found the net to send his side through to the playoff round.
Read below to find out how the action unfolded.
Good evening everyone! A week ago West Ham United looked to be on the way to a routine victory and a spot in the Europa League playoff round, but a disastrous turn of events for the Premier League side saw Astra Giurgiu hit back and claim a 2-2 draw at Upton Park. It means the tie is delicately poised ahead of tonight's second leg and you can follow all of the action right here.
After starting their season earlier than everyone else in the English game, the Hammers must have been hoping that this tie would be wrapped up by now, but some poor defending and a red card for James Collins handed Astra a way back into it and the home side will be confident tonight. Can a weakened Hammers side produce something better tonight?
Calling it a 'weakened' Hammers squad might be a bit harsh on the fringe members, but Slaven Bilic has decided to leave most of his first-team players back home ahead of Sunday's Premier League opener with Arsenal. Is it a risky approach from the Croatian?
ASTRA: Lung, Alves, Seto, Enache, Budescu, Morais, Boldrin, Gaman, Teixeira, Queiros, De Amorim
SUBS: Alibec, Florea, Gavrilas, Oros, Lovin, Dandea, Stan
SUBS: Alibec, Florea, Gavrilas, Oros, Lovin, Dandea, Stan
WEST HAM: Randolph, Knoyle, Jenkinson, Henry, Page, Poyet, Nolan, Cullen, Lanzini, Lee, Maiga
SUBS: Spiegel, Brown, Chambers, Mavila, Nasha, Pask, Pike
It looks like a simple explanation for the West Ham team. Anyone who is in contention to start at Arsenal is not in Romania this evening, but there's a few senior players involved as Kevin Nolan, Carl Jenkinson and Modibo Maiga start, while Diego Poyet is also involved.
Bilic has also handed three debuts to Manuel Lanzini, Kyle Knoyle and Doneil Henry this evening. It's certainly a risky move by the Hammers boss, but perhaps this selection shows that the club's focus is firmly on the Premier League.
ONE TO WATCH: Fernando Boldrin scored Astra's first last week to start the fightback, and there's certainly a lot to like about the midfielder, who was one of the few players who threatened the Hammers defence throughout the evening. West Ham must find a way to shut him down tonight.
STAT: With so much focus on English and Spanish clubs, it's easy to forget about the transfer gossip from Romania, isn't it? Well, Astra have been very active. They've signed 11 players this summer, with nine arriving on the same day!
"We were always going to play the first leg with the best team," Bilic told reporters hen asked about his squad selection. "But it was always part of our plan, because of the start of the Premier League, which is the priority, that we would come here with a strong team where some players have stayed at home."
"But this is a good game for us. It's a European game and we are very respectful of this competition. Can we still win? Of course, why are we here otherwise?"
Despite impressing with a resilient display last week, Marius Sumudica's side are not in the best of form ahead of this evening's test. They've collected just five points from their opening four league games and currently sit sixth in Liga 1. They finished fourth last season.
West Ham have visited Romania in a European competition on two previous occasions, losing 1-0 to FC Timisoara in 1988 and suffering a 2-0 defeat against Steaua Bucharest in 1999. Will it be more misery for the East Londoners?
KEY MAN: Loved by some, criticised by others but you just feel that this is a night for Kevin Nolan to lead by example. His selection in this side actually suggests that he'll be on the fringes of the team this season, but his experience in midfield and runs forward could be crucial on what is likely to be a tough night for the visitors.
Bilic will not be on the touchline or in the dressing room this evening due to his reaction to some decisions from the referee in the first leg. When you need a calm head in charge of the team, who do you call? Mild-mannered coach Julian Dicks, of course!
PREDICTION: It really won't be easy for West Ham this evening, and I have a sneaky feeling that the visitors could pay the price for their decision to leave nearly all of their senior players back at home. The Hammers still have plenty of talent in the side, but it should be a tight encounter. I'm going for a 1-1 draw.
The likes of Ajax, Fenerbahce, Panathinaikos and Sparta Prague await the Hammers should they claim the result they need this evening, but there's a long way to go before they can start thinking about the playoff round. Kickoff is just over five minutes away.
The players are in the tunnel at Stadionul Astra and it looks to be a very hot evening. It's not an easy away test for Bilic's boys.
KICKOFF: It's Astra who get the game underway in front of their home supporters. West Ham look to be starting with a 4-4-2 formation.
Astra win an early corner, but Darren Randolph comes off his line confidently to collect the ball in the six-yard box.
Lanzini wins a free kick and steps up to take the set-piece, but it's headed behind for a corner.
GOAL! ASTRA 0-1 WEST HAM (LANZINI)
What a start for the Hammers! Lanzini's corner almost brings the goal when a Nolan effort is blocked inside the six-yard box, but Astra can't clear the danger. The ball reaches Lanzini again and he cuts inside before picking out the bottom corner. Lung might have done better, but West Ham don't care!
Bilic will be very happy as he watches on from the stand. This young West Ham side is knocking the ball around impressively in midfield and Astra look a bit shocked by that early goal. The visitors lead 3-2 on aggregate after Lanzini's strike.
Good defensive work on show from West Ham as the midfield drop very deep to make life difficult for Astra when the hosts begin to dominate possession in midfield. Nolan is playing further forward when West Ham have the ball, but he's not abandoning his work at the other end.
Lanzini and Nolan are involved again as West Ham commit men forward, but Page's delivery from the left is cleared away by Seto.
Cullen dives in with a fine block to deny Boldrin, who scored a stunner at Upton Park to start the fightback last week and West Ham clear the immediate danger from the corner, before Budescu sends a speculative effort over.
Budescu is certainly the player trusted to be the playmaker for Astra, but his delivery from a free kick is poor. Luckily for him, he gets a second chance when he goes down under pressure from Cullen.
OFF THE POST! I'm certain it was intended to be a cross, but Budescu curls in a free kick which Randolph completely misjudges and the West Ham goalkeeper is fortunate to see the ball crash against the post and bounce to safety.
In very hot conditions, West Ham are doing a good job of looking after the ball when they do win possession and the defence look very comfortable keeping the hosts at bay.
SUB! Astra are forced into an early change as Alves comes off to be replaced by Cristian Oros. Poyet is slightly lucky to avoid a yellow card for a poor challenge which leaves Teixeira on the floor.
Good work from Jenkinson to offer himself on the overlap, but his cross is a bit too strong and Maiga wasn't in a great position either.
It's just not sticking for Maiga, who has barely had a touch in the early stages. His strike partner is Elliot Lee, son of former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee, and he's done very well to offer an option for the midfield.
West Ham have probably looked the more comfortable on the ball in the first half, and apart from a couple of nervy moments for the visitors, Astra really have struggled to look threatening in the final third of the pitch.
A corner causes problems for West Ham when the first two defenders miss with headers, but William is unable to add the finishing touch from close range. Once again Randolph didn't appear to be in a great position.
Astra win a free kick in a dangerous position, and with everyone expecting the cross, Boldrin plays a clever pass to Budescu, who swings at fresh air from just inside the box.
GOAL! ASTRA 1-1 WEST HAM (BUDESCU)
West Ham have been very good defensively, but they have conceded a very poor equaliser to hand Astra the advantage in the tie. Lanzini loses the ball in midfield and the hosts finds Budescu, who capitalises on the space gifted to him by driving a low shot beyond Randolph from the edge of the box. Bilic will be furious that Budescu wasn't closed down.
As it stands, Astra will be going through to the next round. West Ham need a win or at least a 3-3 draw to qualify this evening. There's certain to be a few more twists, but how will the young Hammers respond to the setback?
GOAL! ASTRA 2-1 WEST HAM (BUDESCU)
West Ham are in trouble now. Enache tricks his way past Cullen before finding William, who beats Jenkinson and pulls back the perfect cross. Budescu takes a touch before picking out the bottom corner with the calmest of finishes. Excellent from Astra's top-scorer.
CHANCE! West Ham will be distraught with how they've lost this lead, but there is still a long way to go in the tie. Jenkinson delivers a free kick from the right wing to find Nolan, who should probably do better with a header that he sends well wide.
Julian Dicks has a big half-time team talk on his hands with Bilic sitting upstairs. West Ham's young players have never been in this position, and there's a few signs that inexperience is an issue as Astra continue to grow in confidence.
There's a moment of concern for Seto when he appears to be caught by Maiga's studs while the two players challenge for a ball in the air, but there was no intent from the West Ham striker.
It's not been the easiest of debuts for Knoyle on the right side of defence and he's left frustrated when a poor touch results in him giving away a free kick with the Hammers looking to set up an attack.
HALF TIME: ASTRA 2-1 WEST HAM
It was the perfect start for an inexperienced West Ham side when debutant Manuel Lanzini fired them ahead in the third minute, but a confident start was quickly forgotten. Constantin Budescu has been the key man for Astra once again and it's his brace which sends the hosts to the break 2-1 up on the night and 4-3 ahead on aggregate.
Bilic was forced to go on the defensive about his decision to leave most of the club's key men at home, and although there is a long way to go, you sense the critics could be out later this evening. Resting the majority of players was fair, but it might have been a safe bet to name one or two on the bench for this tricky second leg.
UPDATE: West Ham may be in trouble, but Southampton are cruising through. Graziano Pelle's early strike has given them a 4-0 aggregate lead over Vitesse. You can follow live commentary of that game with Sports Mole tonight.
What do West Ham need to do to improve their chances in the tie? Apart from the goals, they've looked comfortable at the back. In attack, they need their strikers to offer more support. The visitors have kept the ball well in midfield, but they've struggled to retain possession further up the pitch. Lee has put in a good shift, but Maiga hasn't had much of a kick. Both players need to get more involved.
The players are back out for the second half. West Ham need at least two goals to progress. Astra hold all of the cards. It could be a very interesting 45 minutes.
West Ham make a bright start to the second half. Jenkinson, who is playing in the centre of defence tonight, gets forward on the right and delivers a decent cross, but Maiga is a touch too slow again as Morais clears the danger.
Budescu is involved once again as he finds space on the edge of the box, but Knoyle does just enough to prevent William from collecting the ball inside the box.
CHANCE! Henry is the first player to pick up the yellow card for a foul out wide, and he almost pays the ultimate price. The free kick is delivered to the front post, but Boldrin can only poke the ball over. He really should have done much better.
Better from West Ham as they spend a long spell in possession, before a cross is cleared at the front post by Morias. There's a break in play when William needs a bit of treatment for a knock, but he should be fine to continue.
Astra are under a bit of pressure when West Ham manage to get the ball to Maiga, but his pass is far too weak for Lee, who looked set to pull the trigger in the box. It's not been a great night for Maiga. That's me being very kind.
It's almost another chance for Astra as a loose ball falls to Budescu, who appears to be through on goal, but Jenkinson recovers well to clear the danger.
Danger for West Ham as Enache powers his way into space before firing an optimistic effort over the crossbar from a tight angle.
Lee drifts out wide to collect the ball in space before picking out the run of Knoyle, who does well to clear the corner. The delivery from Lanzini is poor and Astra clear, but the pressure stays on the hosts as another cross is put behind with Nolan lurking at the near post.
A long spell of West Ham pressure ends in disappointment as Lanzini's cross is just a touch too strong for Henry at the back post. Lanzini has looked dangerous at times, but he's also lost the ball on far too many occasions.
Astra waste a good opportunity to break when the attack is slowed down in midfield and the move ends with William striking an effort against Knoyle. West Ham have looked good since the interval, but they need to find more quality in the final third.
Still no changes made by the visitors, but the trouble with a lack of senior players is that it's difficult to see who could make an impact. West Ham could really do with some pace in attack.
SUB! Astra make their second change of the night as Denis Alibec comes off the bench to replace Teixeira.
Lanzini takes the responsibility over the free kick on the right wing, but his delivery is far too strong and Henry commits a foul at the back post.
West Ham's defenders breath a sigh of relief when a dangerous corner drifts across the box without a touch, before William sends a speculative strike wide from 30 yards.
Another corner from Lanzini reaches Cullen, but his glancing header while running away from goal is always drifting wide of the post. West Ham need something special late on.
Enache doesn't appear to be caught by Knoyle, but he goes down in agony just off the pitch. His decision to roll back onto the pitch suggests that it's a time-wasting tactic. Julian Dicks is not a happy man on the touchline. I wouldn't make him angry.
William does very well as he exchanges passes with a couple of teammates while running across the box and he does well to win the corner under pressure from Page.
Astra take the corner short to Boldrin, who delays the cross before delivering a ball which almost catches out Randolph, but the West Ham keeper manages to push it to safety.
Lanzini hasn't seen much of the ball in advanced areas since the interval, but he does well to find space 25 yards from goal before unleashing a low effort which Lung manages to hold.
SUB! Lee's night comes to an end as Jordan Brown comes off the bench to give the Hammers another option in attack.
SAVE! Astra are almost there, but they come close to extending their advantage when Bodurin earns space with a clever turn in the box before testing Randolph with a powerful strike.
SUB! Bodurin wants a penalty when he clashes with Jenkinson, but it's a West Ham free kick and the attacker picks up a yellow card for dissent. Astra's hero Budescu then gets a standing ovation as he comes off for Florin Lovin.
Great work from Cullen on the left wins West Ham a free kick, but Oros heads clear before Page sends a hopeful volley well wide of the target.
Time is running out for West Ham, who still need a goal to force extra time and a couple to book their place in the next round of the competition. Astra have dropped much deeper and they look comfortable.
CHANCE! This the opportunity the Hammers were waiting for. A long ball somehow manages to evade the Astra defenders, but Maiga keeps the ball alive before turning to send a powerful volley over the crossbar.
YELLOW CARD! Lovin picks up a booking in the final minute of normal time after pulling down Page as the full-back looked to launch an attack.
The fourth official confirms there will be four minutes added on. Will there be a late twist?
OFF THE POST! William sprints clear of the West Ham defence, but he allows Poyet to get back and only a fine save from Randolph prevents an own goal. The ball falls to Alibec, who can only strike the post from a tight angle.
CHANCE! Astra miss a second chance to wrap up the tie in stoppage time. Alibec leads the break before sliding a pass through to Bodurin, but he can only fire over under pressure from Henry.
SUB! Pike comes off the bench as Page limps down the tunnel. Another opportunity is wasted as Alibec fires over from the edge of the box.
FULL TIME: ASTRA 2-1 WEST HAM - ASTRA WIN 4-3 ON AGGREGATE
It's all over for West Ham. It would be wrong to take anything away from Astra, who battled back brilliantly a week ago and showed a clinical edge this evening to secure a 4-3 triumph on aggregate. Bilic is surely going to have to face some tough answers about his team selection.
That's all from our live coverage this evening. It's a disappointing night for the Hammers, who now turn their focus to Sunday's Premier League clash with Arsenal. You can follow live text coverage of that match with Sports Mole. Goodnight.
