Albion Under-18s exited the FA Youth Cup at the fourth-round stage following a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Sunderland on Thursday night.
First-half goals from Finn Geragusian and James Barker had the young Black Cats’ cruising right up until the 90th minute, when Rio Parmar netted from the spot before substitute Justin Seven-Seven netted in the 98th minute to send the match to extra time.
The hosts, who were reduced to 10 men in regular time, regained their advantage in the first of two 15-minute halves, but the young Baggies showed character again to win another penalty - which resulted in Sunderland being reduced to nine players, and Parmar doing the necessary again to make it 3-3 and set up a spot-kick decider.
Sadly, they were unable to prevail - missing two of their five penalties to depart the competition on a frustrating night at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground.
The hosts looked the more threatening early on in the cup tie and, having headed just wide in the first few minutes, target man Geragusian would soon break the deadlock - pinching the ball off Baggies defender Dauda Iddrisa before sending a curling left-footed finish into the top corner.
Sunderland’s No.9 on the night could’ve easily made it 2-0 had he not smashed over a left-wing cross from a matter of yards. Still, the hosts made their Black Country counterparts pay for more lapse play at the back.
This time, Noah DuPont was caught trying to turn on the edge of the 18-yard box - resulting in the ball being stolen by substitute Barker, who provided a deadly left-footed finish to double the Black Cats’ lead.
It was a good response by Chay Thompson’s men to this setback, though, and they could’ve halved the deficit before the interval after creating numerous chances.
Midfielder Ryan Colesby forced a sprawling save out of home goalkeeper Matthew Burns, before Rio Parmar did the same - with full-back Adam Letlat going closest with a left-footed attempt. But, again, the shot-stopper was down low to preserve his team’s two-goal advantage at half-time.
Although the second period started with an early dismissal for the hosts following a second yellow card for skipper Finlay Holcroft, the young Baggies were unable to change the pattern of play for much of proceedings.
It was only when substitute Jaiden Francis-Caesar won a spot-kick with two minutes of regular time remaining did the away team look like making a go of the tie, as Parmar converted the resulting penalty to make things interesting heading into seven additional minutes.
Even more time would be added as, somehow, Thompson’s team did the unthinkable and another youngster off the bench did his bit to ensure it happened.
Towering forward Seven-Seven was in the right place to pick up an inviting pass inside the box, before rounding the ‘keeper and finding the net to make it 2-2 - prompting another exciting half-an-hour of action to be added onto the contest.
Still, Sunderland overcame their numerical disadvantage to take the lead courtesy of Triziano Wilson during the first 15 of additional time - tapping in a rebound after Albion's substitute, trialist goalkeeper had parried an effort into his path.
This meant the visitors had to wait until after the restart to level things once more - Remar McNeil inviting a challenge from Geragusian, who was already on a yellow card, in the box and winning yet another chance to score from 12 yards.
As a result, the Black Cats' towering target man was sent off for a second booking and Parmar found the net again with his strike to send the match all the way to a shootout from the spot.
Despite the Baggies' No.10, skipper Alfie Maughan and striker Seven-Seven scoring their penalties, Colesby and McNeil saw theirs saved - with the hosts scoring four of their five to advance to the next round and end the Black Country academy hopefuls' participation in 25/26 tournament.
Albion: Moses (GK) (Trialist 68’), Maughan, DuPont, Perkins, Iddrisa (McNeil 46’), Letlat (Round 84’), Colesby, Blackshields (Gompe 119’), Parmar, French (Seven-Seven 84’), Okorodudu (Francis-Caesar 46’).
Substitutes: Abudu.
Shootout order: Parmar - scored. Colesby - missed. Maughan - scored. Seven-Seven - scored. McNeil - missed.
With thanks to Ian Horrocks: Sunderland AFC for photos.
