Ten-man West Ham United let a two-goal lead slip as they were held to a 2-2 draw against Astra Girugu in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier at Upton Park this evening.
Ecuador international Enner Valencia gave the Hammers the lead on 23 minutes when he rose highest from Dimitri Payet's cross to head home.
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Payet then went close when he fired over from 25 yards after collecting a pass from Mark Noble before the half-hour mark.
Valencia's half turned sour 10 minutes before the break though, and the energetic forward was stretchered off after he got his leg caught in the turf, with Modibo Maiga replacing his teammate.
Payet curled in another teasing delivery with six minutes of the first half remaining, but James Collins was unable to convert as Slaven Bilic's side went in search of their second.
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The ex-Marseille star almost capped his evening off with a goal after the break when he slid a low shot at goal after good work from Mauro Zarate.
Zarate then added the second of the night when he beat a couple of Astra defenders before calmly slotting away his first goal at home for the Hammers.
West Ham's Europa League campaign has been blighted somewhat by poor discipline so far, and they were reduced to 10 men when Collins was shown red for hauling back Astra's Constantin Budescu shortly before the hour mark.
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The Romanian side made their numerical advantage count when Fernando Boldrin hammered in a 25-yard strike with just under 20 minutes remaining.
Astra were level with less than 10 minutes remaining when Angelo Ogbonna inadvertently diverted the ball past Adrian.
Paul Gorst
