**West Ham United U21s 3-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach II**
**Premier League International Cup Group B Chigwell Construction Stadium, Tuesday 10 December 2024, 7pm GMT**
**West Ham United U21s** delivered an inspired second-half performance to overturn a first-half deficit and secure a 3-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach II in their final Premier League International Cup group game at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Goals from Lewis Orford, Luizão, and Kamarai Swyer sealed the Hammers’ first win since September, keeping their very slim qualification hopes alive.
The visitors began the match brightly, with plenty of attacking intent from the outset. Noah Pesch and Shio Fukuda combined dangerously in the opening exchanges, while Fritz Fleck tested Fin Herrick with a speculative long-range effort. West Ham responded well; Junior Robinson coming close in the eighth minute after a clever ball from Orford, only for goalkeeper Tiago Pereira Cardoso to make a slightly awkward save to keep it goalless.
As both teams exchanged blows in a fast-paced first half, Mönchengladbach grew into the game. Their breakthrough came in the 26th minute when Fabio Chiarodia's incisive ball over the top found Fleck. The winger weaved past Luizão and Kaelan Casey before firing into the far corner to give the visitors a deserved lead.
Despite their recent struggles, the young Hammers did not let their heads drop. Ryan Battrum nearly equalised just four minutes later, meeting Ollie Scarles’ pinpoint cross with a towering header that went over the bar. Despite their persistence though, West Ham went into the break trailing 1-0.
Mark Robson's side emerged from the tunnel reinvigorated, making two attacking substitutions that paid immediate dividends. Just four minutes into the second half, West Ham leveled through Lewis Orford. Pressing high, the Hammers forced a turnover, and after clever interplay between Battrum and Sean Tarima, Swyer then flicked Tarima’s into the path of Orford who slotted a composed left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
The goal ignited West Ham's confidence, with Emeka Adiele and Swyer both going close to putting the home side ahead. At the other end, Casey made a crucial tackle to deny Pesch, as Mönchengladbach continued to threaten on the counter.
West Ham’s persistence paid off in the 74th minute. Yet another excellent Orford corner delivery was met by Luizão, whose towering header found the far corner to complete the turnaround.
Mönchengladbach pushed for an equaliser, but West Ham’s defence held firm, with Herrick making a smart save to deny substitute Tony Reitz in added time. Deep into stoppage time, the Hammers struck again to put the result beyond doubt. Favour Fawunmi’s effort, saved by Pereira Cardoso, kindly fell to Swyer, who volleyed home emphatically to cap a commanding second-half display.
The win lifts West Ham into provisional qualification contention in the Premier League International Cup, although their fate depends on the remaining four games elsewhere all finishing in draws.
For Robson's young side, tonight’s comeback will serve as a much-needed confidence boost, having lost their previous eight games, as they look to build on this momentum against Stoke City on Friday and Sutton United next Tuesday.
**West Ham United U21s:** Herrick, Tarima (Fawumni 81), Casey ©, Luizão, Robinson, Orford, Akpata (Mayers HT), Battrum, Moore (Adiele HT), Swyer (Akpata 65), Robinson, Orford, Scarles, Adiele (Fawumni 65), Moore (Rigge 77), Swyer
Subs not used: Terry (GK), Brown, Rigge, Dolaghan
Goals: Orford 49, Luizão 75, Swyer 90+5
Booked: Orford, Swyer
**Borussia Mönchengladbach II:** Pereira Cardoso, Berko, Vali Fard (Dasbach HT), Foss (Reitz 69), Chiarodia, Borges Sanches (Herrmann 32), Stange ©, Swider, Fleck (Vidic 79), Fukuda (Boteli 69)
Subs not used: Dimmer (GK), Wörsdörfer
Goal: Fleck 26
Booked: Berko, Foss, Chiarodia, Pesch, Vidic
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
1
Olympique Lyonnais
4
3
0
1
3
9
**2**
**West Ham United**
**4**
**1**
**2**
**1**
**0**
**5**
3
Blackburn Rovers
3
1
1
1
0
4
4
Sunderland
3
1
1
1
\-1
4
5
Middlesbrough
2
1
0
1
0
3
6
Borussia Mönchengladbach
4
1
0
3
\-2
3
7
Athletic Club
2
0
2
0
0
2
8
Benfica
2
0
2
0
0
2