**West Ham United U21s 2-3 Leicester City U21s**
**Premier League 2, Rush Green Stadium, Friday 14 March 2025, 7pm GMT**
**West Ham United U21s** suffered their first home defeat of the calendar year, conceding late on, falling to a 3-2 against Leicester City at Rush Green Stadium.
The young Hammers twice took the lead through Josh Ajala and Kaelan Casey, but the visitors responded on both occasions before snatching victory in the closing minutes. Lewis Orford had the chance to put West Ham ahead from the penalty spot six minutes from time, only for Stevie Bausor to make a crucial save before Josh King struck the winner on the break just minutes later.
Leicester started brightly, carving out early chances as Amani Richards and Jeremy Monga tested Fin Herrick. West Ham grew into the contest, with Ajala looking sharp up front, and the forward made his mark on 21 minutes. Controlling Junior Robinson’s pass with his back to goal, he turned sharply and rifled into the bottom corner to give Mark Robson’s side the lead.
The young Hammers looked to protect their advantage heading into the break, with Kaelan Casey and Josh Briggs making some excellent defensive stops. However, Leicester found a way through just before the interval. Monga’s driving run created an opening for Olabade Aluko, whose shot was blocked but fell kindly for Jake Evans to sweep into the far corner.
West Ham pushed forward after the restart, with Dan Rigge and Kamarai Swyer both going close, but it was Leicester that came closest, missing a golden opportunity when Richards miscued his volley from point-blank range.
That miss was punished just past the hour mark as the Hammers restored their lead. Orford’s pinpoint corner found Casey at the far post to nod home.
Leicester responded swiftly, though, as Monga dribbled his way into the penalty area and slotted past Herrick to level the scores once more.
The game remained on a knife-edge heading into the final stages, and West Ham had the perfect opportunity to retake the lead in the 84th minute when Robinson was brought down inside the area. Orford stepped up, but Bausor guessed correctly to push his effort away.
Just moments later, Leicester struck the decisive blow. Monga turned provider, releasing King on the counter, and the forward held off Casey before drilling a low shot inside Herrick’s near post to seal all three points for the visitors.
Despite the setback, their first defeat against an academy side since December, the U21s remain comfortably placed within the highest play-off seedings, five points clear of Chelsea in fourth place.
**West Ham United U21s:** Herrick, Robinson, Mayers, Fearon, Briggs, Casey ©, Swyer, Orford, Ajala, Rigge (Landers 78), Moore
Subs not used: Terry (GK), Brown, Akpata, Sowunmi
Goals: Ajala 49, Casey 61
Booked: Robinson, Fearon
**Leicester City U21s:** Bausor, Joseph, Aluko, Godsmark-Ford (Wormleighton 63), Ali, Cartwright ©, Monga, Braybrooke, Richards (King 69), Page, Evans (Briggs 75)
Subs not used: French (GK), Pennant
Goals: Evans 45+1, Monga 67, King 87
Booked: Aluko, Godsmark-Ford, King, Braybrooke