MARLON Harewood´s strike helped West Ham United keep
up their unbeaten record in this season´s pre-season
campaign as they drew 1-1 against TSV 1860 Munich in front of a
fantastic 18,791 crowd at the Allianz Arena.
Alan Pardew brought a full squad of players to Munich in a match to
commemorate the 40th anniversary of West Ham United´s
2-0 victory over the German side in the European Cup Winners Cup.
The brand new 66,000 capacity Allianz Arena was a venue well-suited
to this landmark occasion.
Situated on the outskirts of Munich this magnificent stadium is
simply breathtaking and well deserves to be hosting the opening
game of the 2006 World Cup Finals.
On a sultry evening it played host to the first clash between
Hammers and 1860 Munich for ten years and just the second game
between the sides since that memorable day back in 1965 when Bobby
Moore lifted West Ham United´s only major European
trophy to date.Unlike the Hammers, 1860 Munich narrowly missed out
on promotion last season, having been relegated from Bundesliga One
two years ago.
The kick-off was put back some 20 minutes after the Hammers coach
was delayed getting to the ground, but there was nothing sluggish
about the West Ham start, Harewood firing wide from Anton
Ferdinand´s pass after only five minutes before Nigel
Reo-Coker tested the home goalkeeper Timo Ochs for the first time
with a shot that was comfortably saved down low.
With 15 minutes gone Hammers began to come under some pressure of
their own and home skipper Matthias Lehmann stung the hands of Roy
Carroll with a blistering 25-yard free-kick.
On 20 minutes Shaun Newton surged into the box only to see Ochs
smother well at his feet, while at the other end Tomas Repka had to
be alert to lever Daniel Baier off the ball as the midfielder broke
into the Hammers box.
With 33 minutes on the clock Alan Pardews men made the decisive
breakthrough. It was the simplest of moves, Matty Etherington
swinging over a deep cross from the right and Marlon Harewood
guiding his header home off the post to make it 1-0.
Harewood might have had a second just moments later had he not shot
straight at Ochs from the edge of the area, and then narrowly
failed to latch onto another Etherington centre.
But Hammers were well worth their advantge leading 1-0 at the
break.
HT: 1-0
Pards kept with the same team for the start of the second-half,
and almost immediately his Hammers were threatening, Reo-Coker and
Teddy Sheringham both seeing efforts blocked by substitute
goalkeeper Míchael Hoffmann.
On 51 minutes Tomas Repka was booked for a lunge on Patrick
Milchraum, but worse was to follow for the Czech defender moments
later when the ball broke loose across the edge of the area and his
touch presented a shooting chance for Emmanuel Krontiris, who made
no mistake beating Carroll with a low drive to make it 1-1.
Michal Kolomaznik then tested Carroll with a wicked volley that the
Northern Ireland international did well to flick onto the crossbar,
before the goalkeeper recovered to catch Marcel
Schafer´s drive.
Teddy Sheringham left the pitch to a thunderous reception from both
sets of supporters on 69 minutes to be replaced by Bobby Zamora,
just before Shaun Newton almost found Marlon Harewood with his
cut-back having nicked the ball out of Hofmann´s hands.
With 12 minutes to go Israeli international Yossi Benayoun was
introduced for his West Ham United debut in place of Harewood, the
new signing showing some excellent touches in a congested midfield.
The home side had the better of the chances in the closing stages
as Marco Gebhardt shot wide at the near post and
Kolomaznik´s volley was headed off the line by Anton
Ferdinand.
But 1-1 was a fair result in stifling heat that made the pace of
the game difficult to maintain.
As the final whistle blew both clubs could be rightly proud of an
excellent night at the Allianz Arena that celebrated a wonderful
part of West Ham United history 40 years on.
WHU: Carroll; Repka (Chadwick 74), Konchesky (Ward 60),
Gabbidon, Ferdinand, Mullins (Licka 74), Newton, Sheringham
(Benayoun 78), Reo-Coker (Dailly 60), Harewood, Etherington
(Williams 74). Subs unused: Bywater (GK),