West Ham battle back to kick-off Julen Lopetegui era with pre-season draw against Ferencvaros
West Ham fought back from two goals down to draw with Hungarian side Ferencvaros in Julen Lopetegui’s first match as manager.
The Hammers are on a pre-season training camp in Austria and fell behind to the Hungarian champions in the first-half, with Kwabena Owusu and Aleksander Pesic both on target at the Sportstadion Langau.
Lopetegui, who signed a two-year deal to replace former manager David Moyes in May, handed debuts to summer signings Luis Guilherme and Max Kilman, as well as Wes Foderingham in the second-half.
The new Irons chief also named 2023 FA Youth Cup winners Lewis Orford and Gideon Kodua in the starting lineup, as well as academy graduate Freddie Potts – who spent last season on loan with Wycombe.
It was, however, two of the older players who got West Ham back into the game, substitute Danny Ings scoring a curling free-kick not long after the break.
Nayef's last-minute equaliser in Austria ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/LjqudOH3jp
— West Ham United (@WestHam) July 15, 2024
While results at this stage of pre-season will be of little concern to Lopetegui, fellow substitute Nayef Aguerd smashed home a late equaliser to ensure he avoided defeat.
West Ham next meet National League side Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday before traveling to the United States later this month, where they will play Wolves and Crystal Palace.