Alexander Pearce looks at the next generation of Hammers talent…
West Ham came from behind to beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 at Upton Park and keep their chances of qualification to the next round of the Premier League Under 21 International Cup alive.
Falling behind after just three minutes, the Hammers responded through goals from Kieran Bywater and Kieran Sadlier to take a valuable three points. Qualification will now be determined by the outcome of West Ham’s clash with Fulham on December 8th.
15-year-old Reece Oxford captained the game for West Ham and put in another impressive performance. The England Under 17s captain has been the subject of speculation about a potential move away with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all rumoured to be interested.
The defender has already been compared to fellow East End centre back Rio Ferdinand, who also came through the club’s academy. First-team boss Sam Allardyce has already said he would like to hang onto Oxford and that it is best for a promising teenager to remain at a club like West Ham, where they can break into the first-team at 17 or 18, rather than be at a bigger club and not play or fulfil their potential. Oxford has already been included in a first-team squad when he was on the bench in West Ham’s first-round tie in the Capital One Cup.
But he could do nothing about PSV’s goal when Andrijja Lukovic held up the ball well and laid it off to the arriving Andjelo Rudovic who fired past keeper Raphael Spiegel.
The visitors almost doubled their lead just moments later but this time Spiegel was able to deny Rai Vloet with an excellent reaction save at his near post.
West Ham conceded five in their first match of the competition in a 5-3 defeat against Athletic Bilbao meaning they had to win to stay alive in the tournament.
The home side got going after ten minutes and started to get on top of the game, Ben Marlow and Josh Pask both narrowly missed the target as the Hammers started to create chances.
Finally the equaliser came after 37 minutes when Bywater thundered one into the top corner from the edge of the box.
West Ham almost led at the break when American midfielder Sebastian Lletget turned and got a shot away, but he was denied by PSV’s keeper Jesse Bertrams who produced an excellent save to keep things level.
The home side wouldn’t have to wait long after the interval to go ahead though. This time it was Lletget who slide in Sadlier and he ran in on goal and calmly slotted the ball past Bertrams.
PSV pressed for the remainder of the game looking for the equaliser but West Ham held on well. Spiegel was forced into some good saves with the best being a diving stop to keep out substitute Elvio van Overbeek who really should of scored.
West Ham soaked up the pressure and were marshalled well at the back by Oxford. They saw out the six minutes of added time to claim the win, and set up another must-win game against Fulham next month.