By Official Florida FC
Three weeks out from the start of the Premier League season, two of its mid-table teams, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, were in Jacksonville, Fla. for The Stateside Cup.
That idea might sound illogical or improbable until it actually happened on Saturday night inside EverBank Stadium.
The match was delayed 126 minutes as thunder crackled over downtown Jacksonville. Nevertheless a few thousand fans sat in steamy conditions to watch Wolves top West Ham 3-1.
West Ham started the match with seven of the starting XI who faced Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League quarterfinals in April.
Afterward, Wolves manager Gary O’Neil quipped that he had reservations about playing the match at 8:15 on Saturday evening. Instead, he leaves Northeast Florida pleased at the squad’s performance as it ramps up for a 70th season in England’s top flight.
O’Neil said he enjoyed his time training in Florida.
“The temperature was good, to be fair. It wasn’t too hot. The conditions – we’ve been staying in Fort Lauderdale, just outside Miami – the conditions there have been hot,” O’Neil said. “We’ve had to train early. We’ve had no problem with storms or being delayed. The trips have gone really smoothly. We’re pleased it was a small hiccup. The guys did great to get the pitch playable.”
Despite a flash flooding warning for downtown Jacksonville on Saturday afternoon, the temporary pitch that was laid on top of the grass surface at EverBank Stadium drained well enough so both teams could knock the ball around the pitch.
Wolves created goals through pressing as well as playing through West Ham. Wolves’ 18th opener was created by forcing the Hammers into a turnover. Loanee Jorgen Strand Larsen picked up possession on the right and found a streaking Matheus Cunha who finished first-time.
West Ham’s Ghanian international Mohammad Kudus equalized in the 44th minute with a near-post shot that shouldn’t have beat Dan Bentley as easily as it did.
Both teams made waves of substitutions in the second half.
West Ham made six changes at halftime and four other changes in the 67th minute. Wolves gave every member of its starting XI 65 minutes except for Cunha who came off with a knee injury in the 31st minute.
Wolves substitute Rodrigo Gomes, who was signed from Portuguese side Braga earlier his month, scored in the in the 72nd and 78th minute to win the match.
Saturday’s match drew supporters from New York, Ohio, Minnesota and Georgia. One West Ham supporter from California left with goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski’s pink jersey.
“The weather is different, but we have to adapt, so it’s not an excuse” said West Ham’s first-year manager Julen Lopetegui. “To have the opportunity to be closer to our Florida fans, we are sad because they came out, they are fans of West Ham and we would like to offer them one win. Unfortunately, Wolves deserved to win today. …We have to look forward and know that we have a lot of work to do.”
With two minutes remaining a handful of Wolves supporters roasted Lopetegui –who managed Wolves during the latter half of the 2023 season – by singing: “Lopetegui, what’s the score?”
That answer will be settled twice during the Premier League season that kicks off on Aug. 17.
“I’ve tried to make them less reliant on me,” O’Neil said. “The work this preseason is to (have) them not need me quite so much during the game to fix some things for them. Hopefully, we get some things where they are able to adjust. They did it very well this evening.”
The Stateside Cup continues in Annapolis, Md with Wolves facing Crystal Palace on July 31. The three-match series concludes with Crystal Palace facing West Ham on Aug. 3 in Tampa.
Photos were contributed by Asher Clark.
