Panathinaikos FC Youth 1 Brentford U18s 2: Nwosu scores late winner for McDermott’s Bees in Greece | OneFootball

Brentford Under-18s battled out a gritty 2-1 win over Panathinaikos FC Youth at Georgios Kalafatis Panathinaikos Sports Centre on Tuesday afternoon.

Under-16 striker Jai Nwosu proved to be the difference for Gary McDermott’s side, as he forced an early own goal to give the young Bees the lead, before scoring a last-minute winner in added time of the second half.

Nwosu was joined by U16 teammates Amaru Goppy, Harry Biggs and Ibrahim Serme who all impressed, as U18 players Beau Redknapp, Michel Boni, Domeiro Bobb-Semple, Naeem Gicombe and Otis Honor joined Sam Saunders’ Under-21s on Tuesday night.

The game started evenly, with the hosts enjoying more time on the ball as the Bees eased into the clash.

In windy and at times wet conditions, Brentford began to assert control of the contest away from home.

On 15 minutes Johan Remoundos was played through for Panathinaikos and found himself one-on-one with Brentford goalkeeper Layton Nicholls, however put his effort wide of the goal.

Two minutes later Serme won possession near the edge of the hosts’ box and then fired at goal, however it was saved by Panathinaikos goalkeeper Loukas Stamellos diving to his right.

After some early chances for both sides the shots on target dried up as the game neared the half-time break.

On 42 minutes Andreas Kourouniotis broke forward and looked to score, however Nicholls made a strong save diving to his right.

Three changes at half-time saw Jacob Hanson, Nathaniel Ogungbemi and Jovan Kasujja replace Chris Cohalan, Yerime Ouattara and the trialist.

It brought an immediate response. Running onto Nicholls’ long ball from his own box, Ogungbemi crossed to Jai Bansoodeb deep in the hosts’ box, the midfielder then trying to play to Nwosu who forced a Panathinaikos’ own goal to give the Bees the lead.

The hosts responded strongly and looked to score soon after as they counterattacked with a one-vs-two against Goppy, however Reuben Lawal came sliding in from the right side to clear the ball from the danger area.

That defensive intensity would be required from the Bees as Panathinaikos made some substitutes of their own and found an immediate response with fresh legs.

With 11 minutes to play the hosts found themselves breaking forward with another dangerous counterattack, this time it was Josh Oladapo-Gamu who flew in to make a timely block.

Less than a minute later the Bees were forced to defend bravely, Archie Trimboli following Oladapo-Gamu’s lead and sliding in and blocking a powerful strike from the hosts.

Trimboli was almost rewarded for his defensive efforts with a goal down the other end as the game entered the final five minutes, however his strike from outside the box sailed left of the goal.

Despite their brave defending, Brentford’s dam wall was broken on 90 minutes, Maximos Dabizas able to find the back of the net with a superb strike.

The euphoria was short-lived, however, as Nwosu wasted no time and scored down the other end 15 seconds after the Bees’ kick-off to secure an entertaining 2-1 victory.

Brentford now turn their attention to AEK Athens Youth on Thursday, that kick-off set for a 1:15pm kick-off GMT.

Panathinaikos FC Youth: Stamellos, Kalmpourtzis, Dimakopoulos, Vyntra, Gazis, Theocharis, Argyropoulos, Remoundos, Kourouniotis, Ioannou, Gogos

Subs: Kapsaliaris, Konis, Semos, Karo, Vandiras, Bazoukis, Fotis, Karagounis, Koumoukelis, Gartzonikas

Brentford U18s: Nicholls (Lyon 63), Fanoiki (Trimboli 63), Lawal (Oladapo-Gamu 63), Goppy, Biggs (Bowen 77), Serme, Trialist (Kasujja HT), Cohalan (Ogungbemi HT), Nwosu, Y. Ouattara (Hanson HT), Bansoodeb

Booked: Lawal 39, Hanson 70, Ogungbemi 78, Serme 82, Kasujja 89