West Ham United U21s 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion U21s (AET)
Premier League International Cup, Rush Green Stadium, Friday 23 February 2024, 7pm GMT
West Ham United U21s booked their place in the Premier League International Cup semi-finals following a 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday evening.
Steve Potts’ side needed extra time to force a winner, with Lewis Orford’s late header coming after an enthralling 90 minutes, and a real battle with the visiting Seagulls, finished 1-1.
Indeed, the Hammers looked on the verge of an exit after Brighton’s Cameron Peupion struck a first-half goal to leave the U21s with plenty of work to do by the interval.
The Brighton No7 was sent free and finished into the bottom left corner past Joseph Anang on 16 minutes, although the U21s showed great character to fight back in the second half.
Ollie Scarles’ free-kick – curled into the bottom corner with a neat swish of his left foot – brought extra time, with both sides threatening to net a winner in an exciting extra 30 minutes in east London.
Alongside chances for the visitors, Orford, Scarles, and Kamarai Swyer all went close in extra time before the final big moment of the fixture fell to those in Claret and Blue.
Brilliant throughout alongside midfielder partner Patrick Kelly, the No4 headed home the winner to avoid spot-kicks, meeting Junior Robinson’s cross with a perfectly timed run eight minutes from the end of extra time.
