West Ham United youngster Josh Ajala was just at the heart of a truly memorable night for the club’s academy – and Anton Ferdinand was delighted about it.
Ajala scored twice in the dying embers of the game as the West Ham United U21s booked their place in next month’s National League Cup final.
The young Hammers struck late to beat Tamworth 3-1 at the Lamb Ground to tee up a meeting with Boreham Wood as the competition comes to its culmination in mid-March.
The West Ham United academy had Ajala to thank. Though they had taken the lead against Tamworth through Preston Fearon, they were pegged back just after the hour mark.
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Luis Brown was sent off for an off-ball incident before Hammers youth goalkeeper Fin Herrick saved the resulting penalty from Tamworth.
Ajala, however, would settle the contest in stoppage time. The 19-year-old picked up a second ball following a long throw and finished in ruthless fashion.
Tamworth then piled forward and left the back door open, and for that they were punished. With their goalkeeper in the West Ham box, they were exposed and Ajala went on a one-man counter-attack after stealing the ball back off them in the final action of the game.
He raced the length of the pitch, beat his marker, and finished into an empty net.
Watching on, Ferdinand took to social media platform X to write: “Josh Ajala!!!! The academy of football. Come on the young hammers.”
When told that Ajala looked like a “proper player”, Ferdinand said: “This he is and a striker too they’re hard to find.”
When a West Ham fan talked about the pace, power and composure Ajala showed in scoring those goals, Ferdinand said: “He has all of the above!”
West Ham United celebrate remarkable night for their academy
The West Ham United academy has enjoyed success this season, with the U18s also impressing at times.
Impressively, they were the only developmental team left in the National League Cup knockouts entirely, and now they will play Boreham Wood in the final.
Indeed, it was quite the night for those who made the long journey to Tamworth on Tuesday night, but at least they could revel in a dramatic late victory.
In fact, West Ham United’s official website even hailed it as “one of the most remarkable nights in the Academy’s recent history.”
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Josh Ajala is expected to leave West Ham United imminently
The bad news is that Tuesday night’s hero may not be sticking around for the long term.
Back in January, leading transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claimed that Ajala is expected to leave West Ham upon the expiration of his contract.
The teenager’s deal is due to expire at the end of the season and he’s believed to have previously held talks with clubs in France and Germany.
That is a blow but perhaps Ajala could yet sign off with a trophy.
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