West Ham Win FA Youth Cup After Gideon Kodua Scores Stunning 35-Yard Lob In 5-1 Win Over Arsenal
West Ham United have won the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 1999 after thrashing Arsenal 5-1 in Tuesday's final at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal took an early lead courtesy of Omari Benjamin in front of 34,127 fans but West Ham hit back emphatically with strikes from George Earthy, Callum Marshall, Gideon Kodua, Kaelan Casey and Josh Briggs.
Kodua undoubtedly scored the goal of the night, if not the goal of the entire tournament.
It arrived in the 42nd minute when he tackled an Arsenal defender near the halfway line before beating the goalkeeper with a stunning lob from 35 yards.
The Hammers' Under 18 side had scored 18 goals in wins over Sheffield United, Burnley, Stoke City, Ipswich Town and Southampton en route to Tuesday's final.
Meanwhile, Arsenal had knocked out Millwall, Newcastle, Watford, Cambridge and Manchester City earlier in the tournament.
West Ham have now won the Youth Cup four times, having previously tasted success in 1963, 1981 and 1999.
Only Manchester United (11), Chelsea (9) and Arsenal (7) have won the Youth Cup more times than West Ham.