Premier League 2
West Bromwich Albion U21 2 (Mohammed 10’, Letlat 90’)
Leeds United U21 2 (Pirie 12’, Brockie 53’)
West Brom: Okonkwo (GK), Maughan, Humphries, Crowther, Diomande (C), Mohammed, Francis-Caesar, Iddrisa (Mandey 58’), Ntege (McDonald 71’), Bray (Blackshields 71’), Letlat. Subs not used: Moses (GK), Nelson.
Leeds: Mahady (GK), Dudley (Lopata-White 68’), Firth, Lienou (McDonald 74’), Cresswell (C), Howson, Vincent, Pickles, Pirie (White 54’), Brockie, Render. Subs not used: Ombang (GK).
Referee: Paul Howard
Venue: The Fitlife Foods Performance Centre
Leeds United Under-21s were held to a 2-2 draw away at West Bromwich Albion Under-21s this afternoon, with goals either side of half time from Lewis Pirie and Devon Brockie.
Scott Gardner made five changes to the side that defeated Norwich City last time out, bringing in Rory Mahady, Will Firth, Jacob Render, Brockie and Pirie into the team.
The clash got off to a hectic start as Harvey Vincent cut inside from the right, firing low towards Brian Okonkwo’s far post but the goalkeeper made a smart stop.
West Brom found the breakthrough in the tenth minute as Jamal Mohammed diverted the ball into the back of the net from close range following a corner, giving the hosts the lead.
However, just two minutes later, the Whites levelled the score as Pirie fired home, finishing off Brockie’s cross after some smart play down the left.
Rory Mahady was then called into action, palming away a shot at his near post, before Leeds headed down the other end and forced a corner after Jayden Lienou played Brockie in-behind, but his shot was saved.
Mahady was involved once again as he played a brilliant ball over the top to Vincent, laying it off to Ollie Pickles on the edge of the box who dropped the shoulder and took aim but saw his strike clear the bar.
But as Leeds threatened, the Baggies showed they were still a threat as Torin Ntege connected with a cross and clattered the crossbar from the centre of the box.
HALF TIME: West Brom U21 1-1 Leeds United U21
After the two unchanged sides reemerged after the break, it only took the Whites eight minutes before finding the back of the net.
After excellent play down the flank, the hard-working Brockie swept home Louie Dudley’s pass from the right to put Gardner’s side into the lead.
The Whites then relaxed a little as the Baggies struggled to break down the backline, with the occasional counterattack threatening the hosts’ goal once again.
Entering the closing stages and, as the hosts sought a late equaliser, Mahady had his work cut out, tipping over a deflected freekick and making a last-ditch parry in the final seconds.
Despite this defensive resilience, West Brom restored parity in stoppage time as Adam Letlat found the back of the net, striking through a crowd of bodies from the edge of the area.
There was little time for the Whites to react and find a winner, with referee Paul Howard bringing the encounter to a close moments later.
The Whites are back in action on Tuesday evening as they face Sky Bet League Two side Fleetwood Town in the Vertu Trophy.
FULL TIME: West Brom U21 2-2 Leeds United U21
