Under-21s ease to victory over Anderlecht

Second-half goals from Cam Peupion and Marcus Ifill make it three wins out of three in the Premier League International Cup.

Bruce Talbot

2024-11-26T21:55+00:00

Cam Peupion celebrates with Imari Samuels after combining for the first goal. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Our men’s under-21s made it three wins out of three in the Premier League International Cup after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Anderlecht on Tuesday.

Having already beaten Leipzig and Real Sociedad, Shannon Ruth’s team are on course for the knockout stages with Sporting Lisbon to come in their final group game on 22 December.

Julio Enciso played the first 45 minutes against Anderlecht. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Had it not been for Anderlecht keeper Michiel Haentjens Albion won have won more comfortably than the two second-half goals scored by Cameron Peupion and substitute Marcus Ifill. Haentjens saved Jamie Mullins’ penalty while at the other end Killian Cahill didn’t have a serious save to make. Julio Enciso played the first half and impressed.

Ruth said, "I thought it was a controlled performance. It was a difficult game to prep for and they came with a 5-4-1 and sat in a low block. So we had to be patient and it perhaps took us a bit longer to get the first goal than we'd liked but I liked a lot of what we did. We showed good composure on and off the ball."

Albion dominated possession from the start as Anderlecht settled into a low block and invited the hosts to break them down.

Ed Turns attacks a cross during the first half. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion looked to use their wide men Peupion and Harry Howell when they could but it was a defender, Freddie Simmonds, who had the best opportunity of the first half when the ball broke to him ten yards out and his powerful right-foot volley was superbly saved by Haentjens.

Enciso began to show his quality as the half wore on. A shot from a tight angle worked Haentjens and just before the break a great run past three defenders forced a corner and seconds later Haetjens saved his powerful shot. Albion ended the half in control but without the goal to show for it.

Cam Peupion breaks Anderlecht's resistance early in the second half. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Anderlecht threatened little although Devon De Corte nearly capitalised when Albion didn’t clear their lines but dragged his shot a yard wide.

Albion needed to show patience but they finally broke through seven minutes into the second half. Imari Samuels did well to keep the ball in play and cut it back to Peupion who steered his shot off Haetjens and into the net.

Marcus Ifill soars to head home Albion's second goal. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Haetjens twice denied Josh Duffus, who replaced Enciso at half-time, before Ifill doubled the lead in the 69th minute when he rose unmarked to send a fine glancing header from Howell’s corner into the net.

Haetjens got down low to his right to save Mullins’ penalty, after Caylan Vickers was fouled just inside the box, and late on Duffus hit the post and Louis Flower and Ifill were off target from good positions as Albion finished in control.

Albion: Cahill, Albarus, Samuels (sub: Mills 86), Turns, Simmonds, Peupion (Ifill 69), Mullins, Knight (Owusu 85), Howell (Flower 75), Enciso (Duffus 45), Vickers.