West Ham’s European dream simply refuses to fade and die and now carries them into the last four of the Europa League after a performance for the ages in Lyon.
David Moyes and his band of brothers seemingly know no limit in this competition, rising from a rough start to rip through Lyon and leave themselves one step from the Europa League final at the first time of asking.
From front to back they rose to the challenge once again in this most remarkable of seasons as Craig Dawson, Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen etched their names into the history books.
Moyes has brushed off talk of his side being favourite for this competition all season - but there can be little doubting that now.
Along with the tens of thousands of visiting fans, the great and good of West Ham, and James Corden, had travelled to France for their biggest night in 41 years, the last time the Hammers reached a European quarter-final - a moment that is now firmly eclipsed in Hammers folklore.
West Ham were without Kurt Zouma and Aaron Cresswell through injury and suspension - making this night even more remarkable.
Lyon had their own injury troubles but - bizarrely - included Brazilian Lucas Paqueta in their matchday squad despite his positive test for coronavirus on Thursday morning.
Peter Bosz, the Lyon manager, was hoping the home support could make the difference and, despite there being a number of empty seats, the Hammers were met with a wall of noise and smoke as they emerged.
With the pre-match pyrotechnics from the home fans behind Alphonse Areola’s goal still swirling in the air, the visitors were given an early scare as Karl Toko Ekambi jinked inside past Tomas Soucek and clattered the near post.
Minutes after Ekambi’s effort, Dawson sparked a scramble when he missed a whipped cross from right-back Malo Gusto, almost allowing Moussa Dembele the chance to tap in at the far post.
Dawson and Issa Diop both had a swing and a miss after Soucek’s attempted clearance ended up getting the back four in trouble. Dawson then had to throw himself in front of an effort from Dembele and Diop was booked after just 22 minutes having clattered Toko Ekambi.
It was far from an assured start, but this was a first half which could well serve as a microcosm of Moyes’s time at West Ham.
From the chaotic and concerning start with the defence in disarray, they suddenly stunned a side who just two years ago were in the last four of the Champions League.
The visitors had come through the opening spell by the skin of their teeth and finally started to pose a threat themselves.
Michail Antonio beat three Lyon players down the left before lifting a cross for Bowen who, on the stretch, could only steer it wide of the post.
The two combined again as Antonio chested the ball down for the West Ham winger, whose shot was deflected behind for a corner by Jason Denayer.
Premier League clubs have come to fear West Ham at corners since Moyes’s arrival, but the message may not have quite reached the continent.
Pablo Fornals sent a ball whipping towards the near post, where Dawson barged his way to meet the ball and nodded home - some moment for the man taken off relegated Watford for a measly £2million.
West Ham had their chests puffed out now, they were leading away in Europe in a second leg knockout tie. This was new territory and they grew into it rapidly, pushing forward again on the brink of half-time.
Ben Johnson, deputising for Cresswell superbly, swung a cross from the left which was nodded straight to the feet of Rice by Emerson Palmieri. The West Ham captain was given so much space on the edge of the box that he almost took a double take before firing low and watching his shot deflect off Castello Lukeba and in.
This was dreamland for the travelling West Ham fans high in the corner and watching Rice charge the length of the pitch, kissing the badge all the way, to celebrate with them. Moments like this could just keep him in claret and blue for a while longer.
West Ham were comfortable now and, despite two changes at the break from Lyon, the Hammers forced their hosts into an embarrassing collapse just three minutes after the restart.
Antonio, at his troublesome best here tonight, had dragged the Lyon back line into all sorts of trouble as he rolled the ball back for Fornals. The Spaniard fizzed a first time ball through for Bowen, given the freedom of the Lyon half, who raced forward and rolled the ball into the far corner with his weaker right foot.
From there West Ham needed only to see the night out but they were still giving everything, Dawson twice blocking shots from Tete with his face.
West Ham were there - into the last four, another dizzying step taken on this remarkable rise under Moyes.
There was even time for a semi-sentimental touch too as Moyes sent on veteran Mark Noble in his last of 18 seasons at the club for his first taste of a European quarter-final.
Those in the away end will spend the night in Lyon’s bars dreaming of Mr West Ham holding that trophy aloft next month.
