Albion 2 PSG 1: Ibrahim double sees off Paris in International Cup

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International Cup opener ends with Albion victorious.

Nick Szczepanik

2026-09-16T21:45+01:00

Younes Ibrahim showed his set-piece quality, scoring from two free-kicks. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

Younes Ibrahim kept up his excellent early-season form with both goals as Albion’s under-21s began their Premier League International Cup campaign with victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

Head coach Shannon Ruth praised Ibrahim’s dead-ball delivery after the 3-0 PL2 victory over Leicester City on Friday and it came to the fore as he found the net from two direct free kicks, one each side of half time.

It was a stiff test for the Seagulls as the youngsters from the reigning Champions League winners began the match determined to keep the ball and weave attacking patterns across the pitch.

Younes Ibrahim put Albion in front after George Munday had been fouled on the edge of the PSG box. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion mostly kept tabs on their movement but Sean Keogh had to clear from almost on the goalline as the visitors threatened to walk the ball in.

And the team from the French capital close to taking the lead again when left winger Quentin Ndjantou drove in a low cross that was met first time by Younes Idder, only for his rocket shot to hit one of his teammates and rebound to safety.

Albion, though, were patient and looked to make the most of their possession when they could and that paid off seven minutes as they took the lead seven minutes before the interval.

Tyler Silsby gives his teammate a hug after going 1-0 up. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

Ilian Mhand fouled George Munday just outside the penalty area, in a fairly central position. Ibrahim stepped up and coolly bent the ball around the defensive wall and goalkeeper Arthur Vignaud.

Adam Brett almost doubled the lead before the interval with a snap shot from 20 yards that went just over the bar.

For all their slick, intricate passing, PSG struggled to find a cutting edge. They should, for example, have levelled soon after the restart when Djantou cut in from the left despite the attentions of Tyler Silsby and rolled the ball in front of the onrushing Idder. But instead of hitting the net, the number ten somehow shinned the ball past the near post.

Younes Ibrahim wheels away after finding the back of the net. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

It was a costly miss as Albion were soon 2-0 up thanks to what was almost a re-run of their opener. This time the free kick was awarded when Miah Oriola was felled by N’Guessan N’Dri, but again it was Ibrahim, and his shot was deflected past Vignaud this time by a member of a poorly-constructed defensive wall.

PSG now decided to go for a more direct style and run at the Albion defence, which paid off 12 minutes from time, substitute Noa Bezeme charging through to take a pass from the outstanding Ndjantou and hit a low shot past Albion goalkeeper Steven Hall.

Now Albion knew they were in for a torrid final few minutes as the French side tried everything they knew to draw level. But every cross found a clearance, every through pass was intercepted and every dribble ended by a tackle.

Albion: Hall; Outen, Barclay, Mackley, Keogh (Shaw 74); Nti, Ibrahim; Silsby (Alakiu 74), Brett (T Ferdinand 83), Oriola (Palmer 58); Munday (Joseph 83).