Club NXT practiced one last time before the start of the league against West Ham on Saturday afternoon, August 10. In a whirlwind first half our youngsters easily ran out to 4-0 with goals from Furo, Lund Jensen and Lenn De Smet. After half-time we conceded 3 goals, but still ended the preparation with a win.
Club NXT went on the attack right from the start. At the first corner kick, Furo narrowly missed a cross from Lenn De Smet. Minutes later, Furo headed the ball through and Et-Taïbi saw his effort end up on the roof of the goal.
After twenty minutes of play, Granados put himself nicely through on the left flank and swished the ball perfectly in front of goal. This time Furo cleverly headed the leather against the nets. 1-0. Barely two minutes later he doubled the score. This time the cross from the right flank came off the foot of Wylin. Furo headed in the 2-0.
West Ham was trailing. Club NXT played strong and combined forward smoothly. Lenn De Smet was played in by Granados who fed Furo a third goal, but our young striker just couldn't reach it. On another quick attack through Lenn De Smet, the incoming Lund Jensen was played in perfectly. The Dane could easily tap in the 3-0.
A few minutes before halftime Lenn De Smet tried to increase the score himself, but his attempt went over Hooper's goal. Lund Jensen tried with a blast from the right, but the English goalkeeper punched the ball away. Willems also could not net the 4-0. He headed an assist from Tytens straight at the goalkeeper. The 4-0 appeared on the scoreboard just before the whistle. Furo gave the assist this time, Lenn De Smet rewarded himself with a goal.
Coach Mark Robson, former West Ham player, brought in two new players with Ajala and Tarima at the start of the second half. The first big chance was for our youngsters. Wylin crossed from the left and Lund Jensen popped at the English goalkeeper again.
Afterwards, Moore received his second yellow card. The coaches agreed that he could be replaced by Battrum anyway.
Club NXT was better handled centrally by the English during the second half. Blue-Black still had difficulty threatening goalkeeper Hooper. West Ham tried to get a goal through quick changeovers. They succeeded when Et-Taïbi obstructed Ajala in the penalty area. Orford popped the penalty past the hopeless De Corte.
Coach Veldman brought in Sem Audoor, Faraas and Simba on the hour for Et-Taïbi, Furo and Tytens. Shortly after, the visitors netted a free kick close to the penalty area. Scarles scored the 4-2. West Ham had a taste for it and played a better second half. Battrum went in search of the tying goal, but fortunately his effort went over the crossbar.
Goemaere and Bisiwu also got playing minutes, replacing Lynnt Audoor and Lund Jensen. West Ham continued to force the better chances. Swyer saw the speedy Ajala free, but his shot went wide of De Corte's goal. Ball loss by Simba led to another dangerous phase in front of the Bruges goal. Fortunately, De Corte was able to grab the leather.
Club NXT had another chance but Bisiwu's kick was too weak to beat goalkeeper Hooper. It was West Ham that was more efficient. Captain Orford was able to rush alone at goalkeeper De Corte and netted the 4-3.
At Club NXT, Perez filled in for Granados. The last chance of the match was for Faraas, who after a nice individual action kicked the ball just above the top of the goal. Thus, the score remained at 4-3 and Club NXT wins its last practice game against West Ham after a nice practice match.
Next Saturday, August 17 at 4 p.m. Club NXT will start the league against promotionist Lokeren-Temse at The Nest. Our youngsters are hoping for as much support as possible from the Blue-Black legion.
Club NXT U23: Axl De Corte, Siebe Wylin, Jano Willems, Amine Et-Taïbi (62' William Simba), Renzo Tytens (62' Sem Audoor), Liam De Smet, Lynnt Audoor (72' Laurens Goemaere), Alejandro Granados, Tobias Lund-Jensen (72' Jesse Bisiwu), Lenn De Smet, Kaye Furo (62' Benjamin Faraas). Bench: Argus Vanden Driessche, Olexandr Yakymenko, Shandre Campbell. Coach: Robin Veldman.
West Ham United FC: Finley Hooper, Junior Robinson (89' test player), Oliver Scarles, Tyron Akpata, Luizao, Ezra Mayers, Sean Moore (53' Ryan Battrum), Lewis Orford, Kamarai Swyer (90+1' Luis Brown), Daniel Rigge (46' Josh Ajala), Emeka Adiele (46' Sean Tarima). Bench: Dondre Abraham. Coach: Mark Robson.
Goals: 21' Furo 1-0, 23' Furo 2-0, 34' Lund-Jensen 3-0, 45' Lenn De Smet 4-0, 62' Orford 4-1 (penalty), 64' Scarles 4-2, 85' Orford 4-3.
Yellow cards: 87' Tarima.
Red card: 16' and 53' Moore (2x yellow).
Referee: Arthur De Nil.