Shaw stunner and Oriola strike sees off Zagreb

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Albion exit competition despite victory.

Matt Bishop

2026-01-20T22:00+00:00

Kofi Shaw celebrates his second Albion goal. 📸 By Paul Hazlewood.

Kofi Shaw’s moment of magic lit up a wet Tuesday night on the south coast as our men’s under-21s beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre.

Shaw’s stunning free-kick 20 minutes from time opened the scoring and Nehemiah Oriola tapped home Harry Mills’s cross with five minutes remaining to ensure Shannon Ruth’s side ended their Premier League International Cup with a win.

The wild wind and relentless rain meant conditions in Lancing were atrocious and both sides struggled to get a foothold in the match, but Dinamo Zagreb had the best chance of a very quiet first half when Marko Zerbic drilled wide from 12 yards after 25 minutes.

At the other end, Shaw and Sean Keogh caused Zagreb problems down the left, but Oriola had a header from Keogh’s cross blocked and then Charlie Tasker blazed well over from distance.

Charlie Tasker bursts forwards. 📸 By Paul Hazlewood.

Moments before the break, a neat exchange of passes between Joe Belmont, Shane Nti and Joe Knight ended with the Albion skipper skewing a shot wide from a tight angle, but it was slim pickings in front of goal during the opening 45 minutes.

The wind and rain worsened during the interval and that led to even trickier conditions in the second half, but Nti nearly opened the scoring on the hour mark only for his scuffed shot to be hacked off the line amidst a goalmouth scramble.

Kofi Shaw curls his free-kick goal wards. 📸 By Paul Hazlewood.

Patrik Horvat responded with Zagreb’s second shot of the match after the visitors enjoyed a rare foray into the home side's final third, but the winger’s tame effort whistled well wide of the post with Nils Ramming unmoved.

Albion's training ground really can’t have hosted many matches in worse weather and it looked like that would prevent either side from opening the scoring, but out of nowhere Shaw stepped up to give Albion the lead with a fantastic free-kick that flew into the top corner from 25 yards.

The former Bristol Rovers forward nearly scored his second moments later but visiting keeper Tai Znuderl smothered his shot, and then Ben Barclay came to the rescue at the other end as the match became stretched, clearing Sven Sunta’s header off the line.

Nehemiah Oriola is mobbed after sealing victory. 📸 By Paul Hazlewood.

With five minutes to go, Zagreb finally started to push but Albion caught them on the counter when Mills raced clear on the left and crossed for Oriola to tap home from six yards.

Despite the win, Albion exit the Premier League International Cup – but that won’t dampen their spirits too much after a determined display in the downpour.

Albion starting XI: Ramming, Tasker, Mackley, Barclay, Atom, Keogh (Mills 59), Knight (C), Nti (Newnham-Reeve 85), Shaw (Owusu 80), Oriola (Cullinane 85), Belmont (West 59).