U18 Report: Valiant Albion exit FA Youth Cup

Albion’s FA Youth Cup run is over although they played a full part in a seven-goal thriller against Arsenal at Boreham Wood this evening.

Bruce Talbot

2020-02-06T21:00:00Z

Albion's players celebrate with Vukoje after his first half spot-kick.

Albion lose out 4-3 in north London
Lorent Tolaj scores a brace as Seagulls twice come from behind
Stefan Vukoje nets first half penalty
The Gunners will face Blackburn or Preston in the next round

Mark Beard’s side twice came from behind to draw level through Steff Vukoje’s penalty and a neat finish by Lorent Tolaj four minutes into the second half.

At that stage the Seagulls were on top, but two goals in three minutes midway through the second half tipped the tie in Arsenal’s favour. Tolaj got his second with 11 minutes remaining but Albion couldn’t find a fourth goal despite a storming finish.

Albion had won the corresponding league fixture 6-3 earlier in the season and it was soon evident that there would be goals again with both sides pressing high up the pitch and committing men forward.

The visitors were the better side in the opening stages but it was Arsenal who broke the deadlock in the 21st minutes. Greenwood, who had been denied by Roco Rees moments earlier, ignored appeals for offside to fire a cross from the left past Rees.

The Arsenal striker went close again with a curling effort moments later before Albion responded. Hubert Graczyk kept out skipper Jack Spong’s low drive and pushed away Teddy Jenks’ free kick before they equalised in the 36th minute after Jenks was brought down by Joel Lopez and Vukoje drilled the penalty into the bottom corner.

Stefan Vukoje fires home from the penalty spot in the first half.

But within two minutes Greenwood had restored Arsenal’s lead from another penalty after he was brought down in the box. Albion protested furiously to no avail and Greenwood fired the ball into the bottom corner.

The visitors nearly found a second equaliser just before the break when Tolaj couldn’t quite control Jack Leahy’s cross and turn it past Graczyk.

Vukoje took a knock in the first half and was replaced by Matt Everitt and there was drama in the 49th minute when Albion levelled. Rees had made a superb save after Greenwood had beaten the offside trap and got clean through. Haydon Roberts tidied up and Albion swept upfield. Jenks unselfishly teed up Tolaj and he coolly beat Graczyk from the corner of the six-yard box to make it 2-2.

Lorent Tolaj fires Albion level in the second half.

It was end-to-end stuff. Tolaj’s shot was deflected wide then Rees made a great save to frustrate Greenwood with Antef Tsoungui denying Matt Dennis when the Arsenal wide player looked certain to fire in the loose ball.

But then two goals in three minutes put Arsenal in control. Albion failed to clear a corner in the 67th minute and Miguel Ateez showed great technique to volley the ball past Rees as it dropped over his shoulder. Three minutes later it was 4-2 when the unfortunate Rees claimed a cross but dropped the ball and it trickled over the line.

Albion refused to give up. Jenks blasted over from a good position before Ayo Tanimowo surged into the box and played in Tolaj who drilled past the keeper and make it 4-3 with ten minutes to go.

Albion midfielder Teddy Jenks.

It was all Albion in the closing stages. Graczyk saved a header from substitute Luca Cocoracchio at full stretch and in stoppage time Marc Leonard found himself in a great position after a patient build-up but he got his angles wrong and fired wide of the far post.

It had been a gallant effort by Albion, but their dreams are over for another year.