West Ham United U18s 2-0 Rukh Lviv
Zlatý Kahan Cup, Friday 22 July
A Callum Marshall double saw West Ham United U18s secure a 2-0 victory over Rukh Lviv and leave themselves within touching distance of winning the Zlatý Kahan Cup.
Marshall’s low, instinctive strike late in the first half – which came after brilliant work by Favour Fawunmi – was followed by a clinical finish late in the second in a gritty performance from the Hammers.
The pre-season match was played with rolling substitutes and limited to 60 minutes, with half-an-hour played in each half.
The win leaves the Hammers with three victories from three games played, and with the knowledge that another win on Saturday will see the U18s be crowned champions of the competition.
Played in scorching conditions, the opening exchanges between the Hammers and Lviv were largely even, with the Ukrainian side testing the Irons defence in the first few minutes.
Daniel Rigge went close for West Ham after 12 minutes after winning the ball back high up the pitch. The midfielder turned into the penalty area before firing an effort on goal, which curled into the goalkeeper’s grateful hands.
Lviv found space on the left-flank on 17 minutes, ending up with the ball on the byline. The forward looked to play off his teammate, but the effort ended up falling loosely to the midfielder. His half-volley was narrowly over Mason Terry’s cross-bar.
Check out our gallery from the fixture above!
Full-back Fawunmi looked a threat throughout the first half and showed his quality with a mazy run on 22 minutes, finding George Earthy inside the area. The midfielder was crowded out before getting a substantial shot away.
But the warning signs were there and, just a few minutes later, Fawunmi was involved again. Once again, his push forward from left-back – aided by a Rigge lay-off – allowed the defender into a dangerous area. On the edge of the box, he cleverly found Marshall, who squeezed a low shot into the bottom corner.
Lviv hunted for the leveller and almost found it five minutes after the restart. A quick breakaway forced Terry into a low save, but the Ukrainian side were quickest to pounce. The follow-up was turned towards goal and was cleared from the goal-line by Liam Jones.
Kaelan Casey tried to turn an effort on target from a corner, with the rebounded effort falling for Earthy. The midfielder’s hooked strike was just over.
Oliver Scarles saw a low strike held by the Lviv goalkeeper but the Irons would grab their second four minutes from time. Scarles was again involved, playing a terrific pass for Marshall to run onto and clinically finish into the far corner.
The striker’s second finish of the match, and fourth goal in three games in the Zlaty Kahan cup, secured the victory and left the young Hammers with three wins from three.
A win in the final game on Saturday will see the U18s win the competition.
West Ham United U18s: Terry, Battrum, Casey, Mayer, Fawunmi, Scarles, Orford, Earthy, Rigge, Marshall, Kodua
Rolling substitutes: Falase, Jones, Nallo, Umolu, Akpata, Kelly, Briggs
Subs not used: Boothe, Herrick, Mukasa, Uwandji
Goals: Marshall 28, 56
