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
Robson: We were far more ruthless tonight
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After a series of tough results that hasn’t always reflected the effort and quality of their performances, West Ham United U21s finally got back to winning ways with a 3-1 comeback victory over their German rivals. Reflecting on his young Hammers’ performance, lead coach Mark Robson praised his side's ruthlessness and aggression in the way they approached the second half.
“I thought they \[Mönchengladbach\] started off really well. They were controlling the game so we had to change it. We changed from a three-at-the-back to a four. That helped us grow into the game toward the end of the first half.
"At half-time, we spoke about needing to be more aggressive. Sometimes, it’s not about playing pretty football; you have to be ruthless in your approach. And I have to say, in the second half, the boys were absolutely excellent—outstanding in every department, both in and out of possession. It wasn’t always pretty, but that’s football. Sometimes you have to fight, and tonight we did that and got the result we deserved.”
After two games without a goal, Robson and his staff sought to inspire the players by reminding them of their finishing capabilities ahead of tonight’s game.
“We showed the boys a presentation before the game—clips of the goals we’d scored earlier in the season. There were some brilliant finishes, goals from corners, free-kicks, counterattacks… We’re doing everything right except our finishing. Over the last six or seven games, barring one, we could have come away with wins. Tonight, I was really pleased with the finishing. We were far more ruthless, and it paid off.
“The win tonight puts us back on that winning trail, and the confidence we can take from the performance is huge. The aggression we showed, the fight, that’s what we need to bring into every game. At the end of the day, it’s about sticking your chest out and giving it a right go.
“The boys who came on in the second half made a really big difference and helped us find our way. The second-half performance was exactly what we needed, and it’s something to build on moving forward.”