Report | Swansea City U23s 2 West Ham United U23s 4
Swansea City Under-23s were beaten by West Ham United Under-23s in a Premier League Cup Group F encounter including three penalties.
The Premier League 2 side scored two penalties converted by Jayden Fevrier and Mesque Dju respectively, with Aji Alese and Armstrong Oko-Flex also finding the net.
Azeem Abdulai got on the scoresheet for the Swans before Tarrelle Whittaker converted a penalty, but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat against the Hammers.
West Ham came out of the gates strong, controlling possession in the early stages without really causing the Swansea defence any trouble.
Swansea started to grow into the game 15 minutes in, with Harry Jones flashing a dangerous cross through the six-yard box that Morgan Whittaker couldn’t take advantage of.
Dan Williams almost caught Brian Kinnear in the West Ham goal off guard, firing a long range effort over the out of position goalkeeper, but his shot went just over the bar.
But West Ham would make their possession pay, with captain Alese’s mazy run through the Swans defence allowing him to convert from close range.
Ten minutes later the Hammers had doubled their lead, Nico Hansen came to punch a corner clear, but the referee penalised the Swansea keeper and pointed to the spot. Fevrier stepped up to the spot and sent Hansen the wrong way.
The Swans almost pulled one back before the break, Morgan Whittaker’s great touch allowing him to slide the ball across to Cameron Congreve, but his low effort went just wide of the post.
West Ham’s dominance continued early in the second half, substitute Oko-Flex making it 3-0 for the visitors.
But it wouldn’t be long before the Swans pulled one back, Jones picking out Azeem Abdulai in the box who tapped home from close range.
The Swans thought they had a second, Ben Margetson heading in a superb ball in from Congreve, but the linesman flagged the defender offside.
West Ham were handed a second penalty of the afternoon after Abdulai was judged to have brought down Dju in the box. Dju stepped up and converted West Ham’s second spot kick of the afternoon.
Just two minutes later Swansea were given a penalty of their own after Tarrelle Whittaker was dragged down in the box. He then sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to pull one back for the Swans.
But it wasn’t enough for Swansea Under-23s as they were handed a second defeat in the Premier League Cup this season.
Swansea City: Nico Hansen, Harry Jones, Ben Erickson, Brandon Cooper (Azeem Abdulai 50), Ben Margetson, Tivonge Rushesha, Cameron Congreve, Dan Williams, Sam Leverett (Rio Campbell 85), Morgan Whittaker (Tarrelle Whittaker 70), Lincoln Mcfayden.
Unused subs: Jamie Searle, Jacob Jones.
West Ham United: Brian Kinnear, Will Greenidge, Emmanuel Longelo, Pierre Ekwah, Levi Laing, Aji Alese, Jayden Fevrier, Keenan Appiah Forson, Mesaque Dju (Amadau Diallo 70), Bernardo Rosa (Dan Chesters 85), Thierry Nevers (Armstrong Oko-Flex 45)
Unused subs: Krisztian Hegyi, Kamari Swyer
