West Ham United U19s 4-0 Bengaluru U21s
Reliance Corperate Park, Mumbai.
West Ham United U19s picked up their first victory in the Premier League Next Generation Cup after they comfortably beat Indian Super League (ISL) side Bengaluru U21s 4-0 at Reliance Park.
Dan Rigge opened the scoring in the first half, before Favour Fawumni, Blaise Uwandji and Lewis Orford added goals in the second half to seal the win.
Academy Lead Phase coach Lauris Coggin made six changes from the 1-1 draw with ATK Mohun Bagan, with Ryan Battrum, Josh Briggs, Tyron Akpata, Olli Scarles, Rigge and Fawumni all coming into the side for their second match of the competition.
With the match kicking off at the later time of 8pm, the temperature was much cooler than it was for the previous match, and that helped in allowing the Hammers to start quickly.
George Earthy had the games first chance as the Irons won the ball high up the pitch. His effort was well saved by Sharon in the Bengaluru goal.
Coggin’s side were aggressive from the off, forcing the Indian Super League side into their own half in the opening ten minutes. That high press led to the first goal of the game.
The ISL side tried to play out from the back from a goal kick, but Archie Woods managed to win the ball back just outside the box. A smart ball across to Rigge from Earthy saw the forward smash the ball home for the opener on 22 minutes.
Minutes later, Akpata almost made it two, but his driven shot from the edge of the box landed narrowly wide of the right-hand post.
On the stroke of half time, Coggin’s side worked the ball from back to front, with Earthy driving forward and finding Scarles, but the winger couldn’t find the target with a strike from distance.
The Hammers came straight out of the blocks in the second half, with Fawumni grabbing his second goal of the tournament, firing beyond Sharon after only 36 seconds had been played of the second half.
Bekay Oram forced Mason Terry into his first save of the evening five minutes into the half, with the goalkeeper doing well to keep his effort out.
Terry was called into action again on 50 minutes as The Blues gained more control in the contest, with the goalkeeper saving 1v1 to deny Harmanpreet.
Indeed, the ISL side established a firm grip on the game, but couldn’t find a way past a firm Hammers defence.
Up the other end, Blaise Uwandji was denied from an acute angle as Irons went in search of more goals.
Fawumni looked to double his goal tally for the evening as the forward cut inside and whipped a sweetly struck left footed effort narrowly wide.
The third goal did eventually arrive. Fawumni looked to have been brought down in the area after a cute pass had been played into him by Scarles, but the loose ball fell to Uwandji who slotted home from close range to put the game beyond doubt.
There was still time before the full-time whistle sounded for Lewis Orford to add one more before the game was out, with Fawumni putting the ball across for the midfielder to slot home to seal victory.
West Ham United: Terry, Battram, Briggs (Bates 36), Casey (Baptiste 36), Clayton (56) , Woods, Akpata (Orford 36), Scarles, Fawumni, Rigge, Earthy (Uwandji 48).
Subs: Jones
Goals: Rigge 22, Fawumni 36, Uwandji 65, Orford 70+2.
