Shamir Goodwin and Torbjorn Agdestein were the architects as a youthful Albion development squad completed an excellent 2-0 win over VSC Guimaraes under-19s.Goodwin’s superb 25-yard strike put the side ahead before teeing up Agdestein for the second on the stroke of half-time.
The performance itself was clinical in the first half but was outweighed by the incredible effort put in by a largely youth-filled squad in gruelling heat.
It was the hosts who nearly made the perfect start as they were pleading for a penalty within the opening two minutes; Emile Asmundsson challenged the Guimaraes forward, but the officials were unmoved.
And Albion nearly capitalised on the referee’s decision when Charlie Harris’s cross dropped at the back post for Agdestein, only to be denied by a superb save from the VSC keeper.
It had been a blistering opening 15 minutes with both sides defying the heat to produce some engrossing high-tempo football but it was Goodwin who really produced on 18 minutes.
The forward collected a perfect cross-field ball from Agdestein before cutting in on his favourite right foot and dispatching a tremendous strike into the far bottom corner from 25 yards.
Physically Albion had been dominant but both sides were looking dangerous on the break and the hosts came within millimetres of an equaliser soon after the Seagulls had taken the lead.
A deflected cross from the left ricocheted off the underside of Grant Smith’s bar and bounced away to safety, and moments later an audacious 50-yard lob dropped safely wide.
As the heat took its toll the pace began to slowly drop, but the hosts had a golden opportunity pass them by when their forward left the ball behind when attempting to round Smith, for what would have been a simple tap-in.
With half-time looming the Seagulls doubled their lead as Goodwin expertly linked up with Agdestein and this time the Norwegian was not to be denied as he side-footed into the bottom corner.*
There was still plenty of effort and determination on show but the pace, amidst wholesale changes, was further disrupted during a quieter start to the second half. Goodwin came close with a looping header which dropped onto the roof of the net before he was replaced on 62 minutes.
The hosts came within a whisker once again but this time dragged a promising opening just wide of substitute Christian Walton’s right-hand post.
But Albion’s youthful development side continued to press their opponents excellently and came away with a richly deserved victory.
Attentions will now turn towards the second friendly on Saturday against Braga’s under-23s but for now the Seagulls can reflect on a wholehearted and pleasing display.
Original article
The performance itself was clinical in the first half but was outweighed by the incredible effort put in by a largely youth-filled squad in gruelling heat.
It was the hosts who nearly made the perfect start as they were pleading for a penalty within the opening two minutes; Emile Asmundsson challenged the Guimaraes forward, but the officials were unmoved.
And Albion nearly capitalised on the referee’s decision when Charlie Harris’s cross dropped at the back post for Agdestein, only to be denied by a superb save from the VSC keeper.
It had been a blistering opening 15 minutes with both sides defying the heat to produce some engrossing high-tempo football but it was Goodwin who really produced on 18 minutes.
The forward collected a perfect cross-field ball from Agdestein before cutting in on his favourite right foot and dispatching a tremendous strike into the far bottom corner from 25 yards.
Physically Albion had been dominant but both sides were looking dangerous on the break and the hosts came within millimetres of an equaliser soon after the Seagulls had taken the lead.
A deflected cross from the left ricocheted off the underside of Grant Smith’s bar and bounced away to safety, and moments later an audacious 50-yard lob dropped safely wide.
As the heat took its toll the pace began to slowly drop, but the hosts had a golden opportunity pass them by when their forward left the ball behind when attempting to round Smith, for what would have been a simple tap-in.
With half-time looming the Seagulls doubled their lead as Goodwin expertly linked up with Agdestein and this time the Norwegian was not to be denied as he side-footed into the bottom corner.*
There was still plenty of effort and determination on show but the pace, amidst wholesale changes, was further disrupted during a quieter start to the second half. Goodwin came close with a looping header which dropped onto the roof of the net before he was replaced on 62 minutes.
The hosts came within a whisker once again but this time dragged a promising opening just wide of substitute Christian Walton’s right-hand post.
But Albion’s youthful development side continued to press their opponents excellently and came away with a richly deserved victory.
Attentions will now turn towards the second friendly on Saturday against Braga’s under-23s but for now the Seagulls can reflect on a wholehearted and pleasing display.
Original article