Albion Under-21s were frustrated by Borussia Mönchengladbach on Wednesday evening as they lost 3-2 in the Premier League International Cup at the Alexander Stadium.
Young forward and second-year scholar Jaiden Francis-Caesar had opened the scoring on the night for the Baggies, but Iaia Danfa and Charles Herrmann turned things around for the Germans at the break.
Although Souleyman Mandey created a bit of brilliance to level things at 2-2 with four minutes remaining, a late penalty from Michel Lieder sealed victory for Mönchengladbach - during an encounter which saw Albion man Kevin Mfuamba shown a red card in added time for violent conduct.
In the opening period, both teams enjoyed chances without really managing to get a foothold in the game. Brian Okonkwo in the Albion net was kept busy, seeing a shot fly just wide after the stopper had given the ball away - prior to saving from Niklas Swider before preventing two later efforts from finding the net.
At the other end, Jack Bray had the most presentable chance for the hosts - capitalising on good play from Matthew Crowther and Torin Ntege by reaching an eventual left-wing cross but, unfortunately, the Barnsley boy found visiting goalkeeper Tiago Pereira Cardoso in his way from a few yards out.
The visitors dominated the opening exchanges and should’ve gone ahead when Fritz Fleck struck narrowly past the post with Okonkwo beaten. But as luck would have it, the young Baggies were the ones to break the deadlock.
Poor game management saw a Mönchengladbach attacker hold onto the ball too long, with the home press leading him into his own box where he had the play stolen from him, allowing Francis-Caesar to guide a low finish into the corner for 1-0.
Annoyingly, the lead wasn’t to last and the German visitors turned the tables entirely on their English counterparts to lead at the interval - Danfa and Herrmann both converting inside the box to give, in truth, ‘Gladbach a deserved lead.
The visitors continued their dominance in the second 45 and they should’ve scored again through substitute Justin Adoz, who sent a stinging strike straight at Okonkwo.
Downing’s Albion team struggled to forge a clearcut route to goal, though, with Michael Parker lashing one well over and Mandey seeing a shot blocked on its route to goal. The Austrian wasn't to be denied, though, and created a bit of magic to level matters again - weaving through a couple of challenges before scoring in off the post brilliantly.
Sadly, his magic would be undone as Jamal Mohammed conceded a spot-kick just moments later - resulting in Lieder sending Okonkwo the wrong way to put the away team ahead once again and this time, for good, as they walked away victors from the International Cup tie on a frustrating night for the young Baggies.
Albion: Okonkwo, Maughan (Nelson 62), Diomande, Mohammed, Humphries (c), Parker, Crowther, Mandey, Bray (McDonald 73), Ntege (Mfuamba 62), Francis-Caesar (Ranger 73).
Substitutes: Brady, Letlat.
Red card: Mfuamba 90+7
