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Looking to get back into the game, Southampton brought on Sufianu Sillah Dibaga, who had scored the last time the two sides met just three weeks ago. With seven goal contributions in seven games for the young Saints this season, the 17-year-old Spanish winger posed a big threat down the right-hand side.
Although the pressure was building on the West Ham goal, and goalkeeper Lanre Awesu made some important interventions, it was the Hammers who came closest to scoring as Rayan Oyebade headed a Sowunmi cross goalwards, only to be denied by an excellent Moody save.
Southampton continued to probe for an equaliser, but the sturdy West Ham backline continued to hold firm. With 85 minutes on the clock, with their first prolonged spell of possession in the Southampton half since Oyebade’s chance almost 20 minutes prior, the Hammers sealed all three points and their passage into the next round.
Second-half substitute Majid Balogun, who had picked up where Adiele had left off, tormenting the Saints full-backs, burst through two defenders and drove towards the Southampton goal. His low ball across the penalty area set up Ajala who manoeuvred his way into a bit of space before firing across his body, his deflected effort nestling into the bottom left corner.
West Ham came close on two occasions in stoppage time to adding a fourth. A volleyed cross from Preston Fearon was flicked on by Airidas Golambeckis to Mehmet Halim. His header, also his first touch of the game since replacing Ajala, forced an excellent reflex save out of Moody. With the last kick of the game, Halim came close again, but his effort, set up by fellow stoppage time substitute Lewis Beckford, flashed wide of the far post.
Although there are still three final group stage fixtures to be played, Coggin’s young Hammers sealed their place in the next round either as group winners, pending Everton’s result against Nottingham Forest, or as the best second place side on seven points and plus four goal difference.
West Ham United U18s: Awesu, Medine, Mayers (Nwosu HT), Golambeckis, Oyebade, Fearon ©, Sowunmi, Kamara, Ajala (Halim 90), Hargan (Beckford 90), Adiele (Balogun 69)
Sub not used: Hooper (GK)
Goals: Ajala 1, 85, Sowunmi 36
Booked: Adiele
Southampton U18s: Moody, Adjei-Afriyie, Matthews, Dobson-Ventura, Sheaf (Goremusandu 77), McMullan, Newman (Martin HT), Rohart-Brown (Sillah Dibaga HT), Oyekunle, Daley, Gathercole
Subs not used: Upstell (GK), Bassega
Goals: Oyekunle 34
Coggin: The work rate of every single one of our players was fantastic
After extending their unbeaten run to six games and securing their place in the quarter finals of the Premier League Cup, lead coach Lauris Coggin was understandably very pleased with his budding Hammers’ performance.
“I’m really impressed with the togetherness that we showed,” he said. “The grit and the determination was backed up by quality in moments. If you look at the goals that we scored, they were also really pleasing. The work rate of every single one of our players was fantastic.”
Having only just played this afternoon’s opponents three weeks ago, an end-to-end 2-2 draw at Little Heath, the team was well prepared to go toe-to-toe with the Saints once again.
“We adjusted some subtle details in the build-up. How we pressed, which led to the first goal. Although there were changes in personnel for both sides, we knew what they would offer. They’re one of the best sides that we’ve faced at this level. A really technical team that test you in every way and I’m pleased by how we overcame that.
“I’m very pleased for the players that stepped into the starting eleven; Lanre [Awesu] and Riley [Hargan] did really well. Majid [Balogun] too; coming in as a first-year scholar from Manchester United, he’s been very patient and it was great to see the impact he had creating the third goal. Seeing how the boys celebrated with him is fantastic and exactly what we want to promote.”