FT - West Ham United 1-3 Sydney FC

WEST HAM UNITED v SYDNEY FC
FOOTBALL UNITED TOUR
WESTPAC STADIUM, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
SATURDAY 26JULY 2014
KICK-OFF: 2.07PM NZ TIME

Image removed.
Image removed.
Image removed.
Image removed.

Image removed.
Image removed.

Final score - West Ham United 1-3 Sydney FC

96: The game is over. Thanks for joining us. We'll have goals, reaction and more across our media platforms soon.

94: Gameiro is replaced by Timotheu.

93: West Ham have a free-kick five yards outside the box. Vaz Te takes and the ball hits the wall and loops wide for a corner. Zarate's corner is a wicked dipper that the goalkeeper helps on its way for another corner. That comes to nothing other than a throw. When Whitehead crosses next, Janjetovic collects.

91: We're going to have five added minutes.

90: Ognenovski is replaced by Muata-Marlow for Sydney. I recekon that's the last change.

88: Time is almost up, so this is the correct time to thank every member of the Claret and Blue Army who has turned out to support the Hammers during our stay in New Zealand. The results haven't gone our way, but the experience has been unforgettable. Thank you all.

83: Fanimo is out on the left wing. Vaz Te is on the right. The latter collects and is fouled by Gersbach. Sydney bring on Burgess for Ibini-Isei.

82: He's 16, but as his SkyWalk showed, Howes is fearless. He takes a free-kick with his first touch and then receives a dogdy return pass from Reid. He doesn't panic, though and calmly sidesteps Gameiro as the No7 bears down on him.

81: Fanimo is the final outfield substitute and he's on for Downing. Young goalkeeper Sam Howes is on for Adrian for his first-team bow. Sydney bring on Gersbach for Jurman at left-back.

77: Sydney's man of the moment Gameiro spent two seasons with Fulham and was loaned to Hayes and Yeading in 2011. He was released by the Cottagers in 2013 after a loan spell with Wellington Phoenix. He is now 21 and was an Australia U20 international.

75: Vaz Te has his first opportunity in the attacking third, beating his man but shooting low and wide of the near post. Goal kick. West Ham are running out of time if they want to avoid a second defeat of the tour.

72: Potts is on for O'Brien. The No27 will play at right-back.

69: - Gameiro looks to be a player. He gets in behind the West Ham back four again and fires a low shot that Adrian spills and collects as the ball rolls across the face of goal.

68: Poyet is on for Diame and Whitehead replaces Noble.

65: After a delay, two changes from Sydney. Naumoff and Gligor replace Abbas and Antonis.

64: Goal! Another simple goal for the hosts. Cresswell is beaten by Antonis, but only because the right-back punched the ball past him! The game goes on and the right-back latches onto a return pass from Ibin-Isei before finding Gameiro, who takes a touch and goes around Adrian before slotting past the sliding Collins. Controversy abounds, particularly as the big screen replay shows the clear handball at least twice! The West Ham players are incensed, but Mr Waldron is not going to change his mind.

63: Audacious from the substitute Trantis, who clips a shot over Adrian from 25 yards that kisses the top of the crossbar on its way over.

62: Good goalkeeping from Janjetovic as the No20 claims Cresswell's cross. The three goalkeepers West Ham have faced this week - Moss, Italiano and Janjetovic - have all been at the top of their respective games. They will all have been hugely motivated to do well against their Barclays Premier League opponents.

60: A moment of concern for West Ham as Gameiro wriggles away from his marker inside the box. He elects to take another touch and forces himself wide before slicing into the side netting. That was a half-decent chance. A few seconds later, Sydney attack again and Antonis drives over the bar from 25 yards. Again, he might feel he should have done better from there.

59: Jarvis is replaced by Vaz Te. Can our Play-Off final hero get his name in the headlines again? He will play on the left.

57: Zarate collects from Diame about 22 yards out. He has a wall of defenders in his midst, but the Argentine conjures enough space for a shot that rises and eludes the far top corner by a few yards.

56: Sydney make a third change, with Trantis on for Dimitrijevic.

55: Nolan wins a tackle but only at the expense of a corner. The near-post delivery squirts out to Antonis, who slices his first-time shot way over the top.

54: A foul by Collins on Gameiro near the corner flag leads to a Sydney free-kick. Collins heads clear, but only as far as Abbas, whose shot is deflected a yard over the crossbar.

52: West Ham are going forward again, but when the attack breaks down, Reid is penalised for a challenge where he appeared to win the ball cleanly. Before the free-kick, Sydney bring on Bojic and Carle for Ryall and Brosque.

51: GOAL! The comeback is on. Jarvis is released by Nolan and he has space in behind Ryall. Zarate and Downing want it, but Jarvis's cross instead hits Petkovic and loops over Janjetovic and into the corner! No5 Jurman tried to clear, but the post got in his way.

48: The Hammers are probing for an equaliser but nothing has happened for them just yet. Nolan appears to be playing up front alongside Zarate.

46: Sydney get us back underway... Zarate is on for Cole.

Half-time - West Ham United 0-2 Sydney FC

46: Noble lifts a long ball into Cole, who controls on his chest, turns and wallops a volley a few yards off-target. Janjetovic watches the ball fly over and Sydney have a goal kick. Seconds later, the half-time whistle is blown by referee Nick Waldron.

44: Heart in mouth time for O'Brien as Ibin-Isei rolls a first-time cross inside the box and Gameiro attacks it and goes to ground. He wants a penalty, but the referee waves away the appeal. We will have at least one added minute.

43: West Ham have a shooting chance. The ball is played down the right, with Noble to the fore following Cole's hold-up play. The ball is laid off to Downing, whose low shot takes a touch off a defender that carries it into the arms of the goalkeeper.

38: West Ham's subs are back on the bench, but I expect Big Sam to make changes after the break. For now, Sydney have another corner. Central midfielder Dimitijevic takes and Cole again heads clear at the near post.

35: The ball just won't go in. O'Brien overlaps and crosses for Nolan, but the No4 cannot force an effort on goal. West Ham will get a considerable boost if they can score before half-time. As happened against Wellington, they've had the lion's share of the play without putting the ball in the net.

34: Better. Diame wins the ball back and Downing finds Cresswell wide left. He runs forward and plays a neat give-and-go with Cole inside the box before his first-time shot hits the side netting. The West Ham fans 'Ooooh' in disappointment.

33: Janjetovic flaps Noble's free-kick and the ball is worked back to Downing, whose rasping shot hits Ryall. Handball claims are turned down. Sydney clear their lines.

32: Cole holds up play from Jarvis's pass and finds Nolan. He initially beats his man on the outside, but his shot is charged down. Corner. Jarvis's initial delivery is cleared but the ball is worked back to the winger. He is pulled back by Abbas, who is booked. Last time we had a free-kick here, Sydney scored.

30: Sydney have a corner as Cresswell slides in to tackle. Cole heads clear and West Ham can counter through Diame and then Downing. The move slows down and when Jarvis hangs up the cross to the far post, it's headed clear.

29: Moments after Downing had stung the palms of Janjetovic, the winger is involved again, taking a pass from Nolan and beating his man before cutting back for Cole. The striker is crowded out and Sydney clear their lines.

26: Goal! Sydney go 2-0 up. It's too simple. A loose pass in midfield leaves Diame no chance and Ibin-Isei picks out Brosque with O'Brien caught upfield. The No14 takes it first-time and drives a low left-foot shot across Adrian and into the far corner.

23: Another chance, this time for Diame. He has time and space and only one defender in front of him, but elects to shoot from long-range. It's a daisy-cutter and simple for Janjetovic.

22: This is better. Diame and Cresswell combine before Noble finds the Senegal man in space. He loses his man and clips a ball into the box for Cole, but the striker cannot control and the goalkeeper collects.

21: Patient build-up from the Hammers. Noble finds Downing wide right. Demel overlaps and Downing runs his man before crossing. Janjetovic can't hold on, but Jarvis is beaten to the rebound by a defender and Sydney escape.

18: Another nervous moment as right-back Ryall gets past Jarvis and Cresswell and into the box. He cuts back for Ibin-Isei, who beats one man before being challenged by a lunging O'Brien. The Irishman wins the ball cleanly and West Ham break. Jarvis is fouled 30 yards out, but Noble lifts the free-kick straight to goalkeeper Janjetovic.

16: The Australian side are on top here. They are stroking the ball around with confidence and composure. West Ham have not put together an attack of note since the opening moments of the game.

13: Not a lot to write about in terms of action in either penalty area in recent minutes. However, we do have an injury to report. Unfortunately, Demel cannot continue and he is replaced by Cresswell. The No3 goes to left-back, with O'Brien going to right-back. It appeared to be Demel's upper leg which was bothering him.

9: The goal has knocked West Ham out of their very early stride. Cole gifts a pass to a Sydney player in midfield, but thankfully the A-League side cannot benefit. The Hammers need to settle down and play their football.

6: Needless to say that was not the start we were all looking for. You could see the danger developing as soon as Noble's crossfield pass went astray. Adrian's first touch was to pick the ball out of the net.

4: Goal! Gameiro scores for Sydney on the counter after Noble had given the ball away cheaply in midfield. Abbas strides forward and sends the No7 clear, with left-back O'Brien playing him onside. The Sydney man takes a touch and passes the ball under Adrian and into the net.

3: Two chances go begging as Noble's free-kick finds Nolan. His shot is blocked and Janjetovic saves the follow up from Diame.

2: West Ham have started really well. Demel collects from Cole and his low cross is cleared to Diame. He works the ball left and Jarvis takes on right-back Ryall before being brought down a yard outside the box. Free-kick.

2.07pm - The Hammers get us underway!

2.06pm - The two sides go through their pre-match handshakes and coin-toss and they are going to swap ends. West Ham will kick-off...

2pm - The strains of 'Bubbles' can be heard loud and clear as the famous Hammers anthem is played on the PA system here at Westpac Stadium. The two teams emerge from the tunnel on the far side of the pitch to cheers from all around a stadium known as 'The Cake Tin' for its round shape.

1.50pm - The two teams are back in their respective dressing rooms ahead of the kick-off in about 15 minutes or so. The stadium is filling up, but it's not full just yet. Presumably the fans will be taking their seats shortly. Of course, the hometown Phoenix are playing at 4.30pm, so some supporters may choose to arrive a little later this afternoon.

1.30pm - Kick-off is fast approaching and the teams are both out on the pitch here at Westpac Stadium. It's a cold, still, sunny winter's day here in Wellington. We have got the team news for you, with West Ham making three changes to their starting XI from Wednesday's 2-1 defeat by Wellington Phoenix.

West Ham United: Adrian, Demel, O'Brien, Reid (c), Collins, Noble, Diame, Nolan, Downing, Jarvis, Cole
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Howes, Cresswell, Fanimo, Potts, Poyet, Whitehead, Vaz Te, Zarate

Sydney FC: Janjetovic, Ryall, Jurman, Petkovic (c), Gameiro, Ibin-Isei, Ognenovski, Antonis, Dimitrijevic, Abbas, Brosque
Subs: Necevski, Bojic, Trantis, Carle, Gligor, Timotheu, Naumoff, Muata-Marlow, Gersbach, Burgess

Good afternoon and welcome to Westpac Stadium in New Zealand's capital, Wellington.

West Ham United complete their Football United Tour with a fixture against A-League side Sydney FC, with a near-capactity crowd expected for a double-header that also features the hometown Phoenix's clash with Newcastle United.

The Hammers will be seeking to end a memorable trip on a high, having lost 2-1 to the Phoenix in Auckland on Wednesday evening. With thousands of members of the Claret and Blue Army expected to be in attendance, Sam Allardyce and his players want to put on an impressive showing.

However, West Ham will have to make do without the absent Andy Carroll, who has travelled to the United States for ankle surgery, as well as Cheikhou Kouyate (ankle) and James Tomkins (groin).

With those three players unavailable and others to be given extended run outs after coming on in the second-half against Wellington - including the impressive Stewart Downing and midweek goalscorer Mauro Zarate.

Opponents Sydney finished fifth in the A-League in 2013/14, but have since lost the services of Italian great Alessandro Del Piero. The Australians have an almost exclusively home-based squad, bar Serbians Nikola Petkovic and Milos Dimitrijevic and Iraq international midfielder Ali Abbas.

We will have the team news confirmed for you shortly, plus live text commentary, highlights and exclusive reaction following the final whistle.

For Wellington-based Hammers, tickets remain on sale for the double-header, while the match will be screened live across New Zealand on SkySport pay-per-view.

For British-based fans, the game will be screened live on BT Sport at 3.07am UK time.

Related stories

Football United Tour - Supporters' Guide

Opposition File - Sydney FC