Premier League 2
Leeds United 2 (Douglas 43’, Coleman 90’)
West Ham United 5 (Casey 8’, Marshall 45’, 49’, 86’, Scarles 68’)
Leeds: van den Heuvel (GK), Moore, Ferguson (Godden 82’), Monteiro (C), Mullen (Debayo 57’), Crew, Carole (Coleman 70’), Jenkins (Spencer 57’), Thomas, McGurk, Douglas. Subs not used: Ombang (GK).
West Ham: Knightbridge (GK), Chesters (Robinson 82’), Luizao, Orford, Laing (Tarima 82’), Casey (C), Kodua (Moore 86’), Kelly, Marshall (Battrum 86’), Earthy, Scarlet. Subs not used: Herrick (GK).
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 3,040
Referee: Paul Marsden
Booked: Mullen, Ferguson, McGurk (Leeds) Kelly (West Ham)
Leeds United Under-21s played their first home match of the Premier League 2 season, taking on West Ham United, who put in a strong display at Elland Road to go back home with the three points.
The Whites walked out on home turf having won their first two games of the 2023/24 campaign, beating Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as Manchester United away from home. Travelling up from East London, the Hammers had won one and lost one of their opening games.
It was the away side who went into the lead after just eight minutes of the match, albeit in controversial fashion.
A deep corner into the box was turned goalwards by Kaelan Casey which Kris Moore cleared away, only to see the flag go up to say it had crossed the line, meaning the goal was given.
There were no doubts about crossing the line moments later, as the Hammers had a chance for a second. Callum Marshall had the full goal to aim at but found a well-positioned Jeremiah Mullen to clear it away.
Approaching the break and having soaked up some pressure, Leeds equalised with a well worked goal. Sean McGurk was the creator playing it to Connor Douglas who cut back inside, beat two players then smashed into the back of the net.
In stoppage time though, West Ham would retake the lead. Having been denied earlier in the game, Marshall would find the net this time, showing good feet before firing home low and hard from the edge of the box.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 1-2 West Ham United
The Hammers came out in the second half and quickly added a third. Again it was Marshall who tucked the ball away, flicking home at the near post from Gideon Kodua’s ball into the box.
Approaching the hour mark in the match, Skubala went to his bench. He brought on Morten Spencer and James Debayo, replacing Jeremiah Mullen and Jack Jenkins.
Spencer looked to instantly get into the game and had a quick chance. A clever corner from McGurk found the midfielder who struck at goal, only to see his effort turned behind.
With Leeds pushing forward, the Hammers had space on the counter attack and would punish the hosts again.
A quick break forward found Ollie Scarles in space on the left-hand-side of the box, from which he struck low into the bottom corner to increase the lead, netting a fourth for the away side.
The scoring wasn’t done and with four minutes of normal time left on the clock, Northern Ireland senior international Marshall completed his hat-trick with a low strike from just inside the area.
That wasn’t to be the last of the goals. Fresh from the Leeds bench, Cian Coleman burst forward through midfield and as he approached the final third, struck a powerful 25-yard effort at goal.
It was too hot to handle for Jacob Knightbridge between the posts as he got a glove on it, but the ball trickled over the line to reduce the deficit in the final few moments.
The whistle did blow shortly after and it had been a tough evening for a young Whites side at Elland Road, who suffered their first defeat of the new Premier League 2 season.
Next up is a chance to bounce back against Stoke City at the LNER Community Stadium in York, next Friday.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-5 West Ham United
