West Ham United U21s 2-3 PSV Eindhoven U21s
Premier League International Cup, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Tuesday 9 April 2024, 7pm BST
West Ham United U21s exited the Premier League International Cup at the semi-final stage following a narrow 3-2 defeat to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday evening.
After early chances for George Earthy, Kamarai Swyer scored the opener at Chigwell Construction Stadium with a neat finish from the edge of the area.
Lewis Orford then added West Ham’s second with a superb strike from around 25 yards out ahead of the half-hour mark.
After Mason Terry then kept the lead with a crucial penalty save against Mohamed Nassoh, PSV came out roaring in the second half to secure the win with three goals of their own.
The U21s had beaten Celtic, Valencia and GNK Dinamo Zagreb - and took a point against Olympique Lyonnais - to reach the knockout stages of the PL International Cup with ten points from their four group-stage games, before a last-eight win over Brighton & Hove Albion set up a semi-final with the holders.
But this is where the Irons’ journey ended, as PSV skipper Nassoh cut the U21s’ lead in half with a delicate finish on 47 minutes, before a late equaliser from Jesper Uneken, and a stoppage-time winner from Tai Abed secured the win for the visitors.
The Hammers will return to action in Premier League 2 on Friday when they travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich City.
West Ham United U21s: Terry, Moore, Tarima, Casey ©, Mayers, Clayton, Kelly, Orford, Swyer (Marshall 65), Mubama, Earthy
Subs not used: Hooper (GK), Briggs, Rigge, Brown, Akpata, Ajala
Goals: Swyer 13, Orford 30
Potts gutted Hammers couldn’t hold onto the lead
While the disappointment was clear at the final whistle, Steve Potts praised the quality of PSV as the Hammers couldn’t hang on to victory.
The Irons were three minutes of normal time from a place in the final, before a late Dutch double swung the tie in the visitors’ favour.
Lewis Orford's sensational strike 🤩🚀 pic.twitter.com/1vrGSpKKnc
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 9, 2024
Potts explained: “I thought in the first 35 minutes we were excellent because this is a seriously good team, and we got after them and stopped them playing.
“We scored two goals - both great finishes - but I felt there were more opportunities to get goals because we had some great openings that we could have made more of in the first half.
“It was a really early goal for PSV in the second half which I think got them on their way and we had to try and defend for our lives.
“They had chances and I thought Mason [Terry] was excellent. At one point it looked like we were going to get through it, and we had some half-chances on the break to get a third too."
Up next
Our U21s face a quick return to action in Premier League 2 against Norwich City on Friday 12 April.
The fixture will be played at Carrow Road, with kick-off set for 7pm.
