The Development Squad gained a superb yet dramatic win in the penultimate game of their season against Chelsea on Friday night. Here’s how it unfolded.
It was a very fast start to the game, with Jordan Brown coming close for the Hammers and Charly Musonda and Ola Aina producing fantastic saves out of Raphael Spiegel. The Hammers were dynamic in attack, with wingers Nathan Mavila and Josh Cullen giving Chelsea full backs Aina and Fikayo Tomori plenty of trouble.
Chelsea, who fielded a team with players such as Dominic Solanke and Tammy Abraham who have had first-team experience in the past, continued to attack but the strong defence of Josh Pask and Emmanuel Onariase blocked them from scoring many times.
Brown and Djair Parfitt-Williams were piling intense pressure on their goalkeeper Bradley Collins, but both teams saw their attempts to no avail as the score remained 0-0.
There was some nice movement too from the U21s, with Lewis Page, Cullen and Mavila combining well only to see the latter’s cross cut out by Dion Conroy as Brown was lurking. Mavila also came close as his shot ricocheted off the bar and Parfitt-Williams tapped wide.
Just before half time, the Hammers were awarded a penalty as Moses Makasi was tripped in the box. Captain Josh Cullen took it, but unfortunately it went narrowly wide of Collins’ post.
That miss only spurred the Hammers on. Brown, Cullen, Parfitt-Williams and Mavila all bombarded the Chelsea goal with attempts in the second half, while Makasi and Amos Nasha did a tremendous job in protecting the back four.
With Chelsea needing a win to secure the title, Jeremie Boga and Mukhtar Ali were brought on but Spiegel held strong and denied their attempts. Vashon Neufville and Jaanai Gordon were brought on for Page and Brown respectively, and Gordon almost came close but was deemed to have fouled a Chelsea player.
Right in injury time, the Hammers won a corner, but it was cleared away. One minute later, Alex Pike made a superb run and his low cutback found Josh Cullen on the edge of the box, who hit it first time into the top corner.
Cullen’s tremendous goal was nearly the last kick of the game, as the young midfielder ran to the away fans to celebrate. The goal was enough, and the Hammers gained the three points and cost Chelsea the title, which won it for Manchester United.
The U21s play their final game of the season on Monday against Leicester City.
West Ham United U21s: Raphael Spiegel, Lewis Page (Vashon Neufville 67), Josh Pask, Emmanuel Onariase, Alex Pike, Nathan Mavila, Moses Makasi, Amos Nasha, Josh Cullen, Jordan Brown (Jaanai Gordon 76), Djair Parfitt-Williams
Unused subs: Sam Howes, Grady Diangana
