Albion Under-21s lost 2-1 against Valencia in their final Premier League International Cup group match on Wednesday night.
It was a tale of the substitutes which decided the contest at Damson Park under the lights, and although Jaiden Francis-Caesar broke the deadlock for the Baggies midway through the second period, late efforts from Mario Dominguez and Pol Trigueros sealed victory for the Spaniards.
The result concluded the Black Country hopefuls’ run in the tournament for the 2025/26 season, as they finished Group B with one victory and three defeats from their first-ever involvement in the International Cup.
It turned out to be a very quiet first 45, with Valencia dominating a lot of possession without threatening, while Leigh Downing’s men were unable to get a foothold in the game.
The second 45, however, was a different story entirely with the introduction of Torin Ntege and Francis-Caesar helping the hosts gain some control and space to create opportunities.
Souleyman Mandey had the best moment early after the restart, meeting a left-wing cross in the centre of the box but, frustratingly, the ball bounced up to the Austrian as he was winding up to shoot - meaning the resulting attempt flew just past the target.
Pressure didn’t stop there as Deago Nelson took aim and brought a comfortable save out of the Valencia shot-stopper, Jamal Mohammed did the same from a flicked header, before Michael Parker smashed the crossbar with a left-footed rasper.
Eventually, Los Murciélagos’ defence ran out of answers for the mounting questions asked of them by the home attack and it was two substitutes who linked up to great effect - Ntege racing down the left and squaring for Francis-Caesar to slam the ball into the net.
A strong second-half performance wasn’t enough to see Downing’s team maintain their advantage, though, Dominguez sending a deft finish with the outside of his boot beyond goalkeeper Joe Wallis to level matters, before the visitors nicked the tie through Trigueros' scrambled effort from a corner kick in the second minute of added time.
Valencia’s late goals proved pivotal in the end as they condemned Albion to a third defeat in their maiden appearance in the European tournament.
Focus for Downing and his young team, in addition to advancing in the PL Cup and Birmingham Senior Cup, will be to qualify for next season's International Cup tournament, with a top-16 finish in the Premier League 2 standings needed to earn qualification.
Albion: Wallis, Mohammed, Abudu (Letlat 85), Humphries (c), Nelson, Blackshields, Colesby (Iddrisa 73), Parker, Mandey, Ranger (Francis-Caesar 46), McDonald (Ntege 46).
Substitutes: Brady, Okorodudu.
