West Ham United 3-5 AFC Bournemouth
Betway Cup

AFC Bournemouth claimed the honours in a high-scoring Betway Cup at London Stadium on Saturday, beating West Ham United 5-3 in the Hammers' final run-out before the start of the 2020/21 campaign.

West Ham recovered from falling two goals behind early on to level before the break thanks to Jarrod Bowen's double, but Bournemouth shrugged off that blow by scoring three unanswered second half goals through Dan Gosling, Adam Smith and Jaidon Anthony.

Felipe Anderson came off the bench to score a third for the Hammers, but they couldn't mount a second comeback as Bournemouth claimed the trophy.

West Ham got off to a slow start and were punished with just five minutes on the clock.

Bournemouth’s Arnaut Danjuma picked up possession in midfield, and made his way into the hosts’ box too easily, before shifting onto his right foot and slotting past David Martin.

The visitors continued to look the more likely early on and they doubled the advantage before West Ham could respond.

Smith played.a big role in the goal, racing through space in the left channel on 17 minutes before cutting back low for Dominic Solanke to make no mistake with a firm finish from ten yards.

Manuel Lanzini was forced off on the half hour after picking up a knock, and his replacement, Josh Cullen, was involved in both goals as the Hammers hauled themselves level before the break.

First, he found Jarrod Bowen with a pass in behind the Bournemouth defence, and the forward held off his man to poke past Jordan Archer.

Then, with 42 minutes played, the duo combined again, Cullen swinging over a sumptuous cross from the left for Bowen to plant a downward header into the net.

The teams exchanged chances at the start of the second period, Sebastien Haller volleying over from 15 yards for West Ham, before Gosling had an effort blocked from a dangerous position at the other end.

Gosling went one better with his next effort, re-establishing the lead for his team 12 minutes after half time.

The chance looked to have gone when Martin forced Solanke wide, and Angelo Ogbonna blocked from Billing, but the ball broke back to Gosling, who fired home via the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Five minutes later, Bournemouth had another, Smith arrowing a fine right-footed shot across Martin and past his dive into the far corner.

This time, the Hammers would not be able to find a way back after the visitors added a fifth on 67 minutes, again from the left channel of the penalty box.

Anthony was the goalscorer, bending his shot into the top right hand corner of the net, to give Martin no chance.

There was time for West Ham to pull one back, Felipe Anderson glancing a fine header home from Robert Snodgrass’ inswinging corner six minutes from time, but Bournemouth had done enough to claim the Betway Cup.

West Ham United: Martin, Johnson (Fredericks 26), Diop, Ogbonna (Balbuena 63), Cresswell, Bowen (Masuaku 63), Noble (Wilshere 63), Lanzini (Cullen 32), Fornals (Snodgrass 82), Antonio (Felipe Anderson 63), Haller (Xande Silva 82)
Subs: Trott (GK), Coventry

Goals: Bowen 38, 42, Felipe Anderson 84

AFC Bournemouth: Archer, A.Smith (Pugh 65), Rico, Mepham (Ofoborh 60), Simpson, Stacey, Danjuma (Danjuma 46), Lerma (Billing 46), L.Cook (Kilkenny 77), Stanislas (Zemura 77), Solanke (Anthony 60)
Subs: Dennis (GK), Jordan

Goals: Danjuma 5, Solanke 17, Gosling 57, Smith 62, Anthony 67