Adam Letlat’s injury-time strike secured a last-gasp draw for Albion’s PL2 side against Leeds United at The Fitlife Foods Performance Centre on Friday.
Jamal Mohammed headed the Baggies into an early lead, but efforts from Lewis Pirie and Devon Brockie put the Whites in control on a wet and windy afternoon in the West Midlands.
However, with just seconds left on the clock, the Algeria youth international fired into the bottom corner from the egde of the box to rescue a point.
The visitors had the opening opportunity after less than five minutes. Harvey Vincent hit a powerful effort across goal with his right foot, but stopper Brian Okonkwo thwarted the number seven.
The first goal of the day arrived after 10 minutes. Defender Mohammed rose highest in the box and nodded the ball into the ground and into the back of the net from Alfie Maughan’s left-wing corner.
Leeds hit back almost immediately, though. The away outfit broke down the left and when the ball was played into the middle of the area, Pirie was there to convert.
Chances continued to come and Albion forward Torin Ntege crashed the underside of the bar from close range after Letlat had delivered a low cross from the left.
It was United who scored the contest’s third just eight minutes into the second 45. Brockie found space in the box and rifled an attempt high into the net beyond Okonkwo.
Leigh Downing’s youngsters went in search of an equaliser and forced saves from Leeds goalkeeper Rory Mahady from two free-kicks. Substitute Souleyman Mandey and full-back Maughan saw shots thwarted, and another sub, Miller McDonald had a powerful strike pushed away by the number one.
But Mahady was powerless to deny the Baggies a deserved leveller in added time. A corner kick from the left was cleared as far as the edge of the box, with Letlat taking a touch and unleashing a composed drive into the bottom corner.
The hosts could’ve won it moments later. McDonald cut in from the left and tried his luck with a curling effort, with the ball whistling just wide of the far post.
ALBION: Okonkwo, Maughan, Diomande, Mohammed, Humphries, Letlat, Crowther, Iddrisa (Mandey 58’), Francis-Caesar, Bray (Blackshields 71’), Ntege (McDonald 71’).
Subs: Moses (GK), Nelson.
