- Albion beat Leicester City 3-2 to reach the FA Youth Cup fourth round
- Stefan Vukoje (2) and Lorent Tolaj on target for Mark Beard's side
- Sidnei Tavares scores two penalties for Leicester
- Derby County await in the fourth round
The home side were behind to a penalty inside two minutes, but led at the break thanks to two goals from Stefan Vukoje, the first a penalty.
Leicester levelled again with the third spot-kick of the match early in the second half, but a superb goal by Lorent Tolaj sealed a place in the last 16, and a trip to Derby County on a date to be confirmed in January.
Albion made the worst-possible start, going behind in the second minute when Ben Clark-Eden fouled Sidnei Tavare inches inside the box, and Tavare got up to send Roco Rees the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The Foxes, who have lost twice to Albion in this season’s league encounters, nearly had a second six minutes later, but Rees denied Terel Pennant with a smart save to his left and the value of that stop became evident in the 16th minute, when the Seagulls drew level.
Teddy Jenks was sent sprawling by Adam Leathers’s challenge inside the box, and Vukoje sent keeper Oliver Bosworth the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Albion now got on top and Bosworth saved Jenks’s low drive with his legs, after good work down the left by Sam Packham, before Jenks and Vukoje combined to create a chance for Tolaj, but the striker was unable to squeeze the ball in from a tight angle.
The Foxes were still a threat though and it needed a great interception by Antef Tsongui inside the six-yard box otherwise Pennant would have had a tap-in. But in stoppage time Vukoje finished off a patient move by Albion with a shot on the turn into the bottom corner – a quality finish.
Leicester levelled six minutes after the break from their second penalty. Tavares was brought down again – this time by Rees – and he rolled the spot-kick inside the left-hand post to make it 2-2.
Ed Turns could have restored Albion’s advantage but failed to keep his header from Packham’s free kick on target, before the Seagulls did get their noses in front again in the 63rd minute, when a sweeping move led by Vukoje ended with Tolaj burying a low shot into the bottom corner. Tolaj then produced an eye-catching burst of speed but his shot from a tight angle hit the side netting.
Albion saw out the closing stages with a degree of comfort and coach Mark Beard will hope for more progress in the New Year against Derby's youngsters.
ALBION: Rees, Packham, Clark-Eden, Turns, Tanomowo, Leonard, Spong, Jenks (Everitt 76), Vukoje (Wilson 63), Tsongui, Tolaj.
SUBS NOT USED:, Talley (GK), Cocoracchio, Offiah, Leahy, Furlong.