West Ham United cruised to a 6-2 win over Perth Glory with Jarrod Bowen stepping off the bench to bag a double and an assist as the club's pre-season tour Down Under got off to a winning start.
Although the major news coming out of the game will no doubt be former captain Declan Rice’s departure from the club as his move to Arsenal was confirmed.
West Ham got off to a flying start when they scored after just a minute had been played when Daryl Lachman turned into his own net.
The visitor's then doubled their lead from the spot when Pablo Fornals was brought down with Gianluca Scamacca ruthlessly blasting the penalty past Oli Sail.
MORE: Arsenal finally land Declan Rice for record fee
Glory hit back on the stroke of half time when Luizao conceded the second own goal of the match when his outstretched leg diverted the ball past an otherwise imperious Lukasz Fabianski.
The introduction of Bowen off the bench in the second half proved telling with the English international showing his class with two smart near post finishes, as well as registering an assist.
Daniel Bennie had a night to remember when he slid a nice finish to grab a consolation for the home side, who now move on to more important matters when they face Macarthur in the Australia Cup next week.
Meanwhile, West Ham will face Tottenham on Tuesday with the premier league giants squaring off in an intriguing battle.
Declan Rice exits from West Ham
Just an hour or so before kick off against the Glory, Rice confirmed the news every West Ham fan had been dreading to hear as he announced his departure from the club.
It came as a sucker blow for the Hammers but has long since been in the pipework with Arsenal later unveiling the midfielder as their summer recruitment drive landed its most impressive asset thus far.
The English international penned a heartfelt open letter to the fans thanking them for their support, citing how the allure of playing in the Champions League proved impossible to turn down.
"The last few days and weeks have been an absolute whirlwind of emotion," he wrote.
"I want you to know how tough a decision it has been for me to leave an environment that I have loved and cherished so much.
Ultimately, though, it has only ever been about my ambition to play at the very highest level of the game."
How David Moyes replaces his talisman will now go a long way to dictating how West Ham's season will pan out.
Jarrod Bowen dazzles at Optus Stadium
Bowen didn't take long to make his mark on the contest when he ghosted between two defenders to poke home the first of a double.
His second was almost a carbon copy of his opening goal with his elusive movement in the box proving impossible to track for the Glory defence.
The English international also turned provider when some neat footwork created a little bit of space inside the box for him to swing an enticing cross towards the back post for Emerson to head home.
Daniel Bennie grabs Perth Glory consolation
On a night where West Ham's superior quality on the ball often shone through it was teenager Bennie who grabbed some of the limelight for the Glory with a consolation goal in the second half.
After catching the eye for Australia in the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup, Bennie once again showed his promise with a calm finish into the far corner.
Final score: Perth Glory vs West Ham
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| Perth Glory | 2 | Luizao (OG), Bennie |
| West Ham | 6 | Lachman (OG), Scamacca (P), Bowen 2, Emerson, Mubama |
Perth Glory vs West Ham updates, highlights and commentary
FT: West Ham 6 - 2 Perth Glory
90 mins: Just three minutes left now.
86 mins: GOAL! Bowen claims a double with another near post finish as he ghosts between two defenders and smashes home to make it six goals for the night.
81 mins: GOAL! It doesn't take long for the Hammers to get their fifth with Chesters hanging up a cross at the back post for an easy finish for youngster Mubama.
78 mins: Off the post! West Ham almost claim a fifth with the ball slamming back off the post after a long-range effort.
72 mins: GOAL! What a moment for Bennie who gets one back for the Glory straight away with a smart finish into the far corner.
69 mins: GOAL! It's brilliant from Bowen who has lit up this second half with his cross to the back post finding Emerson in acres of space to nod home.
67 mins: Some footwork from Bowen sees him chopped down on the edge of the box after Beevers was left trailing. Cook claims the ball without issue though.
64 mins: Emerson slices one wide after great build-up from Chesters once again. The right back terrorised Perth in the first half but has been pretty quiet in the second.
When he did click into gear though it was a nice exchange of passes between him and Bowen which carved open the defence.
60 mins: After a rapid start to the second half, the tempo has died down somewhat.
54 mins: GOAL! Bowen nicks between two Glory defenders to dispatch a near-post finish to re-establish West ham's two goal lead.
48 mins: Massive chance to Perth just minutes into the second half but that man Fabianski comes to the visitor's rescue again.
Then it's the same thing at the other end with West Ham unable to convert a one-on-one opportunity through Fornals as Cook makes an excellent block.
46 mins: We're back underway with both sides ringing the changes, including Bowen coming on for the Hammers with Ings making way.
HT: West Ham 2 - 1 Perth Glory
44 mins: GOAL! There it is - Glory have beaten the keeper. And it comes via the second own goal of the match with Luizao turning into his own net. 2-1 to West Ham as there first half comes to an end.
43 mins: Both sides have had six shots in the opening half, but it's West Ham who have made the most of their chances with Perth struggling to beat Fabianski, who has now made a number of smart saves.
38 mins: Horror moments all around! Sail gets caught on the ball while trying to play out from the back only for Scamacca to blast over the top from 10 yards out.
36 mins: A long range effort from Colli on the edge of the box but Fabianski is equal to it. Emerson then tries his luck from range for West Ham but it goes sailing past the far post.
30 mins: Sub - Khelifi goes off as he's eased back from injury with a big match in the Cup on the horizon for Perth.
27 mins: Chesters is causing all sorts of problems for the Glory from right back. He once again gets in behind and lays a smart low cross which Ings pounces on. A good one-handed save from Sail keeps it from being three.
25 mins: Scamacca is enjoying himself out there, collecting the ball from deep and spraying a long ball over the top for Ings. The promising attack breaks down though when the flag goes up against Chesters.
20 MINS: PENALTY! GOAL! Fornals has been brought down while through on goal by Koutroumbis who gets a yellow card for his troubles. Scamacca ruthlessly dispatches the penalty.
15 mins: Perth offer some threat in attack with Taggart's low drive forcing Fabianski into a decent save. A goal bound effort then cannons off Zouma moments later.
12 mins: Fabianski gets his first touch of the ball 10 minutes into the contest when a lofted through pass lands squarely in his grasp.
West Ham immediately spring a counter and earn their third corner of the match. A short-worked routine is snuffed out.
8 mins: West Ham are camped inside Glory's half with the home side struggling to get a touch of the ball in the opening exchanges. Two back-to-back corners come to nothing though.
1 min: GOAL! It barely taken a minute but West Ham have scored with their first attack. Perth defender Lachman turning it into his own net after a nice one-two on the edge of the box cut the hosts to pieces down the left.
Kick off: We're underway!
5 mins to kick off: Both sides have now completed their warm ups and have left the pitch which is getting one last bit of water from the sprinklers.
20 mins to kick off: West Ham have named their side with Danny Ings starting up front and Fornals also in the starting 11.
West Ham line-up: Fabianski, Laing, Zouma, Luizao, Emerson, Downes, Potts, Chesters, Fornals, Scamacca, Ings
Subs: Anang (GK), Knightbridge (GK), Crewell, Ogbonna, Coventry, Earthy Swyer, Bowen, Mubama
35 mins to kick off: Glory have named their side to take on the Hammers with a debut for former Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Oli Sail between the sticks.
1 hour to kick off: West Ham will be beginning life without their talismanic captain Declan Rice, who has confirmed he will be leaving the club.
"The last few days and weeks have been an absolute whirlwind of emotion," Rice wrote in an open letter to fans.
120 minutes to kick off: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' coverage of the pre-season friendly between Perth Glory and West Ham United.
West Ham squad to tour Australia
Lukasz Fabianski, Joseph Anang, Jacob Knightbridge, Jarrod Bowen, Dan Chesters, Conor Coventry, Aaron Cresswell, Flynn Downes, George Earthy, Pablo Fornals, Danny Ings, Levi Laing, Luizao, Divin Mubama, Angelo Ogbonna, Emerson Palmieri, Freddie Potts, Gianluca Scamacca, Kamarai Swyer, Kurt Zouma.
Perth Glory vs West Ham live stream, TV channel
Here are the details for the live stream and TV channel to watch the pre-season friendly between Perth Glory and West Ham United at Optus Stadium in Western Australia as the Winter Festival of Football begins.
Australia
- Date: Saturday, July 15
- Time: 6:00pm AWST (8pm AEST)
- TV channel: 10 Bold
- Streaming: 10 Play, Paramount+
Global
Saturday's match against Perth Glory will be streamed live and for free on whufc.com and through the club's official mobile app.