Callum Marshall has taken delight in how West Ham United U18s made the most of their goalscoring opportunities in Friday’s 2-0 victory over Rukh Lviv in the Zlatý Kahan Cup.
The striker netted twice for the Hammers – once in each half – to give Kevin Keen’s young side a huge win on the penultimate day of the pre-season competition, against an older and slightly more experienced Ukrainian team.
“It was tough,” he told whufc.com. "Especially in the first half, everything was really close and hard. They were a massive team and were a little bit older than us too. They looked to shut off all our options, especially for us strikers. There was no space to drop into or receive the ball to feet.
“I feel like we took our chance well in the first half and, in the second half, the game opened up a bit because they had to go for a goal. That gave us a few more opportunities in behind. I feel like we handled the game pretty well. We came away with the win, which was perfect.”
A gritty performance was required by the Irons in searing heat against Lviv, who put the youngsters under huge pressure in the early exchanges.
Marshall would turn home just a few minutes before half-time, capitalising on Favour Fawunmi’s superb driving run to collect the ball and slot into the net, before wrapping up the win with a clinical strike in the second period.
The brace on Friday takes the 17-year-old up to four goals in three matches in the Zlatý Kahan Cup so far, and Marshall is targeting even more.
Recalling his finishes, Marshall continued: “Favour drove into the area and I was shouting for the ball for a good ten seconds. I didn’t think he was going to pass it to me, but he gave it to me at the very last second.
“I took my touch across the defender and I thought the referee was going to give a penalty, because it felt like the defender had fouled me before, but I stayed on my feet and was able to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
“For the second, I saw Ollie get on the ball. I knew, with his left foot, he was going to find me if I bended my run. I took myself around the defender and sometimes this pitch didn’t bounce the way we thought it would. I had to gamble and take a step back first, and then I nipped in front and put the ball in the back of the net.
“It’s four in three games, which isn’t bad going. I’d like to get more in the last game too. The goal in the first game, the long-ranged one, I was happy with that because I don’t score many like that. I don’t really get the ball in that area. Today, these goals were a bit more typical of my sort of goals. But it’s good to show you can finish from different areas.”
Three wins from three games played mean that the U18s will win the 42nd iteration of the Zlatý Kahan Cup should they defeat Flastav Zlin on Saturday.
Marshall believes Friday’s performance was a particularly proud one for the lads and the side can take plenty of positives from an intensive week in the Czech Republic.
“I think Friday’s game was a match we had to win. The way the tournament is organised, the side we play tomorrow have to play twice, which gives us a little advantage. It was the most important win for us. I think we did really well.
“It’s been a good week. Our times were through the roof for pre-season so I felt fit. And, when you’re my age, most people just want to play all the time no matter what. I feel like I could play every minute of every game if I was needed, but it’s been a good, tough week.”
