West Ham United U21s fell to Brighton & Hove Albion in the semi-finals of the 26th edition of the Hong Kong Football Club Soccer Sevens tournament in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Young Hammers’ ten-man squad, under the management of Pathways and Development Manager Mark Phillips, had powered into the knockouts of the competition on Saturday by finishing as runners-up in Group D with draws against Singapore CC and Larne FC and a victory over BC Rangers.
Up against tournament hosts Hong Kong FC - who had topped a competitive Group B with victories in each of their three group games over AZ Alkmaar, Leicester City and Hong Kong U22 - in the quarter-finals, West Ham impressively ran out 2-1 winners, to secure a place in the last four.
Finalists in 2015 and 2016, and shield winners in 2017, the Irons fought valiantly against fellow English side Brighton in the semi-finals, but ultimately fell 3-2 on penalties following a goalless draw after extra-time.
Match 60, Hong Kong Football Club 1-2 West Ham United (Quarter-finals)
Ryan Battrum, Sean Moore and Luis Brown all enjoyed chances in the early stages, and the pressure eventually told when Tyron Akpata prodded in from close range in the seventh minute after initially knocking down a long Mason Terry ball and then getting it back from Brad Dolaghan.
The lively Dolaghan was involved in a heavy collision with Hong Kong goalkeeper Freddie Toomer when trying to latch on to another defence-splitting Terry pass, before he etched his name on the scoresheet with the last kick of the first half, with Josh Briggs picking him out unmarked on the penalty spot following a Brown free-kick.
Hong Kong stopper Toomer pulled one back for his team in the 17th minute, reacting quickest to Terry’s save from a Dan Scally effort to set up a nervy finish, but the Hammers held firm to seal victory.
Starting VII: Terry ©, Briggs (Medine), Brown, Akpata, Moore, Dolaghan (Landers), Battrum (Rigge)
Goals: Akpata, Dolaghan
Match 70, Brighton & Hove Albion 0-0 West Ham United (Brighton win 3-2 on penalties) (Semi-finals)
The teams cancelled each other out for the majority of the 20 minutes of normal time, though Akpata went close to netting a winner close to the death when his left-footed shot was tipped around the post by Steven Hall.
With the clash ending goalless, a sudden-death, four-a-side extra-time period of four minutes commenced, and Jethro Medine had a good chance before he popped up with a couple of vital blocks to deny Brighton late on.
Still with nothing between the sides, the game moved into a best-of-three penalty shootout. Dan Rigge saw his opening effort saved, and though Josh Landers and Briggs scored, the Seagulls converted all of their attempts to prevail.
Starting VII: Terry ©, Brown (Medine), Briggs, Akpata, Rigge (Battrum), Moore, Dolaghan (Landers)
Photos courtesy of Steve Wong.