Everton U18s 4-4 West Ham United U18s
U18s Premier League Cup Group D, Finch Farm, Tuesday 29 October 2024, 11am GMT
West Ham United U18s were held to a 4-4 draw after a heroic Everton comeback ensured the spoils were shared in their second group stage game of the Premier League Cup.
Despite storming into a four-goal lead courtesy of goals from Elisha Sowunmi, Mehmet Halim and Airidas Golambeckis, the young Hammers were pegged back by an astonishing second-half turnaround as Everton responded with four goals of their own in a breathless end-to-end contest.
The tone was set early, with Majid Balogun delivering the first warning sign for the Everton defence, bursting into the area and earning West Ham their first corner of the game as his shot was deflected narrowly over the bar.
Only minutes later, Sowunmi continued his hot goalscoring streak to open the scoring for West Ham. Capitalising on a misplaced pass from Everton goalkeeper Douglas Lukjanciks, Riley Hargan intercepted and quickly fed Preston Fearon, who slid a disguised pass into the box. Shifting onto his favoured left foot, Sowunmi struck, his shot deflecting off Joshua van Schoor into the roof of the net.
Everton reacted well and fashioned a good chance of their own. Playing through a congested midfield, Melvin Matos threaded it to George Morgan whose effort on goal produced a fine save out of Hammers shot-stopper Dondre Abraham to keep his side ahead.
As the first half progressed, West Ham looked increasingly dangerous on the counter. Captain Fearon orchestrated a swift break, feeding Sowunmi in the box for a near miss. The momentum continued to build, and just a minute later, the Hammers doubled their lead. Fearon’s high-arching free-kick whipped in from the right was met by Halim, who tapped home at the far post.
Halim was not done yet. Just two minutes later, he completed his brace with another close-range finish, set up by some excellent work from Gabriel Caliste in midfield. Dribbling his way out of pressure, Caliste found Fearon in space, who released Sowunmi in the box. Sowunmi's initial effort was blocked, but Halim was on hand to convert the rebound.
With their tails up, West Ham’s fluid passing and efficiency in possession kept Everton on the back foot. Caliste almost added a fourth with a powerful shot from distance, which the Everton goalkeeper managed to tip away. Hargan tried his luck soon after, striking a volley from outside the box, but Lukjanciks was once again up to the task.
The Hammers’ relentless pressure soon paid off as they found a fourth. Hargan released Fearon down the byline, and his pinpoint ball across the goal was met by Golambeckis, who tapped in his fifth goal of the campaign. West Ham seemed firmly in control.
Yet Everton pulled one back before half-time through a corner, as Braiden Graham found himself unmarked to head home. A hint of the storm to come, but West Ham still entered the break with a comfortable lead.
With renewed determination, Everton began the second half as West Ham did the first. Soaking up pressure, they allowed their opponents control of the ball while being extremely effective on the break. Eleven minutes after the restart, Justin Clarke latched onto a brilliant cross from George Finney, beating his marker and tucking it past Abraham.
Clarke’s strike still seemed a consolation, but six minutes later, Everton’s comeback was well and truly on. Capitalising on an overload in the box, Clarke netted his second, slotting home from a loose clearance into the net. From being down and out, Everton had somehow got a foothold in the game and looked the most likely to score again.
Pressing for an equaliser, Finney continued to put testing balls into the box and the pick of the bunch came on 86 minutes. From the right-hand side he caught it sweetly, and Graham, who had found space between the West Ham centre halves, connected with a perfectly timed diving header, sending it into the top corner to complete a remarkable comeback.
With neither side satisfied with just a point after all the work they had put in, the game became end-to-end with both teams just as likely to secure a winner. Sowunmi was denied one-on-one with Lukjanciks after being slipped through by Chukwuemeka Obi. Moments later, Everton were presented with their own golden opportunity to take all three points but Abraham denied Graham before Caliste heroically blocked Demi Akarakori’s effort from the rebound. At the other end, Caliste was once again at the centre of the action but his close-range effort was blocked by Luca Davis.
After a captivating contest, both sides are now tied at the top of the group, with Everton occupying top spot on goals scored. Lauris Coggin’s young Hammers turn their attention back to Premier League South action where they will host Southampton on Saturday. Their next Premier League Cup fixture will also be at home against the Saints in four weeks' time. With only the group winners and the best runners-up advancing, a victory will be essential to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive.
Everton U18s: Lukjanciks, Finney, Davis, van Schoor (Poland HT), Lambert, Gardner, Matos, Wren (Akarakiri HT), Graham, Clarke (Olayiwola 78), Morgan (Stewart 85)
Sub not used: Patrick (GK)
Goals: Morgan 36, Clarke 56, 66, Graham 86
Booked: Matos, Graham, Lambert
West Ham United U18s: Abraham, Medine, Kamara, Golambeckis, Scanlon, Hargan (Beckford 78), Fearon ©, Sowunmi, Caliste, Balogun, Halim (Oyebade 68)
Subs not used: Ayesta (GK), Omotoye
Goals: Sowunmi 10, Halim 21, 23, Golambeckis 26
Booked: Sowunmi, Abraham, Medine, Fearon x2
