West Ham 2 Juventus 3: Simone Zaza scores late winner to deny Hammers epic two-goal comeback draw with Old Lady
Andy Carroll's brace had gotten the Irons back into the match in their second tie at the revamped Olympic Stadium
WEST HAM were denied an epic comeback as they were beaten by Juventus, despite coming from two goals down.
Andy Carroll's brace had cancelled out Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic's opener.
But Simone Zaza beat the offside trap to race through and score the winner though in the second match at the re-vamped Olympic Stadium.
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic would have been pleased with his side's final pre-season performance as they prepare for a trip to Chelsea in the season opener.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- WE were saved from this Betway Cup clash (their words, not ours) from being decided by penalties when Simone Zaza slotted the visitors’ winner five minutes from time.
- WEST HAM’S first official match at the Olympic, sorry London Stadium and I already miss Upton Park. Not least because the walk from the Tube to the ground is twice as long as the trot along Green Street, and with none of the character.
- THE mood along the marathon hike up from Stratford Station was jovial enough with families, day-trippers and selfies galore. Most un-West Ham-like. Do not expect it to be like this when the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea visit.
- JUST on the subject of the ground’s name. I wonder if the Hammers remember when their bitter rivals Millwall moved grounds 23 years ago the Den was initially called The New London Stadium. So it appears the Irons now have the old one!
- WITH the 53,996 crowd far bigger than Upton Park 36,000 capacity it is no wonder this clash had a touristy feel to it. Especially when the most popular chant was “Stand up if you love West Ham..” a chant I can’t ever remember hearing too often at the Boleyn.
- ONCE inside you cannot help but be impressed by the arena – it is an incredible feat of engineering – which houses undoubtedly the biggest technical area in world football. It so large they could have shared it with Leyton Orient.
- WITHIN seconds of Enner Valencia striking the post for West Ham, Paulo Dybala slotted Juventus ahead in the 18th minute from Mario Mandzukic’s neat flick. The favour was repaid three minutes later when Mandzukic made it 2-0 after good work by Dybala.
- ANDY CARROLL handed West Ham a lifeline when he bundled the rebound across the line after his header was saved by Gianluigi Buffon. The former Newcastle and Liverpool hitman then equalised with another powerful header in the 53rd minute before being subbed on the hour mark to a standing ovation.
- THIS clearly revived the humour among the older Hammers fans who began taunting their fellow newbie supporters with “Where were you at Upton Park?”
- MEANWHILE, amid all the hilarity it was easy to forget that Juventus’ new £79million striker Gonzalo Higuain came on at half time to make his debut for the Italians, just as news broke that another overpriced star, Paul Pogba, had been given permission by Juve to have a medical at Manchester United. If they want to test his fitness, they should just make him walk back to Stratford Station from here!
West Ham next five fixtures:
(A) Chelsea - 15 Aug
(H) Bournemouth - 21 Aug
(A) Manchester City - 28 Aug
(H) Watford - 10 Sep
(A) West Brom - 17 Sep
WHAT SOCIAL SAYS
WHAT THEY SAID
West Ham striker Andy Carroll: "The result didn't go our way, but it was good to get two goals and start scoring again.
"I think it was perfect for the players, the fans and the club and everyone involved.
"It was a good day, the fans came out and were great in the lovely weather. it was nice to get scoring goals in this stadium as soon as possible and get a feel for it.
"I'm feeling good, you know. I got through pre-season really well, so now I'm just looking forward to the start of the season and to keep producing my performances and scoring goals and for the team to do well."