Nathan Holland’s first goal for the club earned West Ham under-23s a share of the points in tonight’s Premier League Cup match against Leicester City.
West Ham started brightly, but it was Leicester who opened the scoring after just six minutes. Admiral Muskwe capitalised on hesitation at the back by Josh Pask to coolly slot the ball past Raphael Spiegel.
Their lead was short-lived as West Ham equalised just five minutes later. Declan Rice met the end of Domingos Quina’s superbly weighted cross with a header that left the Foxes’ keeper stranded.
Leicester retook the lead in stoppage time at the end of the first half, in similar circumstances to the opener. West Ham were sloppy in possession once again and Muskwe took full advantage – dispossessing the Hammers on the halfway line, racing away and netting his second of the evening.
After the break West Ham remained on top, continuing to probe and ask questions of Leicester, but to no avail.
Joe Powell did have the ball in the Foxes’ net a few minutes after the second half kicked off, but he was adjudged to have strayed offside by the linesman.
The Hammers remained patient, continuing to press for an equaliser, and eventually got their breakthrough in the 86th minute. Holland, cutting in from the left-hand side, hit a right-footed shot into the far corner beyond the outstretched keeper’s arms to make it 2-2.
The second half display was much improved on the opening 45, but the young Hammers will need to improve when they take on Nottingham Forest on Monday evening at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
