SK Slavia Praha U19s 2-1 West Ham United U18s NEXTGEN CUP, TC Strahov Pitch 2, Prague, Wednesday 6 August 2025, 4.30pm BST
West Ham United U18s were narrowly beaten in their opening fixture at the 2025 NEXTGEN Cup, falling to a 2-1 defeat against SK Slavia Praha U19s in Prague.
Two early goals from the home side left the young Hammers with work to do, but a positive second-half response saw them grow into the contest and finish strongly with David Chigwada pulling one back late on to ensure a nervy finale.
The U18s arrived in the Czech capital off the back of a promising pre-season campaign and showed glimpses of that confidence in the opening stages. First-year scholar Jephthah Medine was lively on the left flank and created the first real opportunity with a cross into the box that found Andre Dike, whose effort was blocked.
But it was Slavia who struck first, capitalising on a misplaced pass at the back. Matyas Tomek pounced on an under-hit ball across the West Ham penalty area and fed Petr Potmešil who slotted home to open the scoring inside seven minutes.
The home side doubled their advantage just after the quarter-hour mark. A well-worked move down the left saw Vit Skokan reach the byline before cutting the ball back to the edge of the box, where Tomas Ferenc guided a low half-volley into the far corner.
Despite the early setbacks, West Ham began to assert themselves more as the first half wore on. Dike brought a smart save out of Slavia’s Ondřej Suchý after bringing down a high cross from Joe Scanlon, while Aaron Kamara was denied by a last-ditch tackle following a flowing team move.
The Hammers went into the break trailing but with signs of a response already emerging. The second half saw lead coach Lauris Coggin turn to his bench, with six substitutions made around the hour mark to ensure minutes for everyone ahead of the start of the competitive campaign later this month.
Slavia continued to threaten on the counter, but Fin Hooper made an important save from Jakub Kratochvíl to keep the deficit at two. At the other end, Martin Peychev, Connor Brooks and Jonathan Unwin combined well as West Ham looked to build pressure.
Chigwada eventually reduced the deficit in stoppage time. After Joel Kerr’s effort was parried, the substitute reacted quickest to head home the rebound from close range.
The young Hammers will now turn their focus to Friday’s clash with Danish outfit FC Midtjylland U19s, looking to take another step forward in their development in this tournament which sees them go up against international opposition from the age group above.
SK Slavia Praha U19s: Suchy, Barčot (Šmiga 63), Janota, Tomek (Panciř 63), Potmešil, Frolik (Červenka 63), Salaudeen, Krátochvíl (Kovacz 77), Skokan, Ferenc (Ndre HT), Chaluš
Subs not used: Fuksa, Drašnar, Lažek
Goals: Potmešil 7, Skokan 18
West Ham United U18s: Hooper, Perkins (Brooks 69), Smith, Leacock (Onyeka-Fejokwu 60), Scanlon ©, Omotoye (Morris 60), Kamara (Unwin 60), Beckford (Nwosu 69), Dike (Peychev 60), Medine (Chigwada 60), Kerr
Subs not used: Goodger (GK), Jonyla
Goal: Chigwada 80+1
