Liverpool U21s 1-1 West Ham United U21s
Premier League 2, AXA Training Centre, Sunday 9 March 2025, 12.30pm GMT
West Ham United U21s were held to a 1-1 draw against Liverpool U21s at AXA Training Centre, with two own-goals cancelling each other out in a closely-contested match on Merseyside.
The young Hammers created the opening chance of the game inside three minutes. A crossfield pass by Lewis Orford headed towards Junior Robinson, who threaded a pass into Kamarai Swyer’s path, but he was denied by Harvey Davies, and a follow-up from Dan Rigge was volleyed over.
At the other end, Liverpool then created their first chance of the afternoon with Ranel Young bursting in on goal, only to be thwarted by West Ham goalkeeper Lanre Awesu.
Awesu was once again called into action, this time to brilliantly push Trey Nyoni’s goalbound effort around the post after the rebound fell kindly inside the box at the back post.
Liverpool continued to press and, after Orford had curled a shot from distance wide for the Hammers, went close to the opener, with Nyoni forcing another smart save from Awesu.
After the break, the visitors made a bright start. Rigge was lively as he almost teed up Swyer for the first shot of the second half inside.
The young Reds hit back, Tommy Pilling twisted and turned inside the box before drilling a low shot wide of the mark.
However, we soon took the lead in bizarre circumstances via a defensive error when Isaac Mabaya's backpass to Davies found its way past the goalkeeper and into an unguarded net.
With Liverpool ramping up the tempo in search of an equaliser, substitute Keyrol Figueroa thought he had levelled having charged down on Awesu. He blocked a clearance from our No1, leaving the ball to loop towards goal, but appeals that the ball had crossed the line were swiftly waved away by the referee.
Nyoni was then involved again, shooting towards goal having been sent in behind by Kieran Morrison, before Carter Pinnington’s header from a set piece was scrambled to safety.
It looked like the young Hammers had done enough for an eighth successive Premier League 2 win, but we were forced to settle for a point in unfortunate circumstances.
After Emeka Adiele was dismissed in the third minute of stoppage time for a second bookable offence, the resulting free-kick was crossed into the box and inadvertently headed into his own net by Orford with what was the last touch of the game.
Liverpool U21s: Davies, Mabaya, Jonas, Pinnington, Nallo ©, McConnell (Laffey, 30), Kone-Doherty, Nyoni, Young (Ngumoha, 63), Morrison, Pilling (Figueroa, 79)
Subs not used: Misciur (GK), Spearing
Goal: Orford 90+5 (OG)
Booked: Nallo, Mabaya
West Ham United U21s: Awesu, Robinson, Briggs, Casey ©, Mayers, Adiele, Akpata (Fearon 67), Orford, Moore, Rigge (Ajala 67), Swyer
Subs not used: Hooper (GK), Brown
Goal: Mabaya 69 (OG)
Booked: Briggs, Adiele, Swyer
Sent-off: Adiele