Porto U17s 1 Brentford U18s 3: Boni's brace secures win for young Bees | OneFootball

Brentford Under-18s secured a 3-1 win over Porto Under-17s on Saturday in sunny conditions at Estádio Dr. Jorge Sampaio.

Michel Boni bagged a second brace in as many games with defender Matas Klimas also scoring to secure the victory for the young Bees.

In hot conditions in Portugal the game started evenly, the first real shot on goal not coming until the 10-minute mark. Porto’s strike from near the edge of the box was kept out by Felix Lyon in goal for Brentford, Klimas there to clear the danger area.

The young Bees' first attacking move came a short time later. Lyon’s superb long ball freed up Naeem Giscombe down the left, with the winger earning a free-kick. Jacob Hanson, who played his first game in a Brentford shirt after returning from injury, played the ball back to Reuben Lawal, his cross drifting just wide of the goal.

On 17 minutes, Brentford struck with Boni scoring his third goal in two games following a brace against Gil Vicente Under-19s on Wednesday. Strong pressure high up the pitch caused a loose pass back from Porto’s defenders, Boni latching onto the ball and clashing with the goalkeeper and the ball ricocheting into the goal.

The hosts were back on the attack soon after with multiple dangerous crosses into the box which the west Londoners repelled. On 26 minutes, Porto’s cross from the left floated towards the back post, just missing the head of the winger drifting in.

As the half-hour mark passed, it was the visitors again on the attack as Boni broke down the left. The forward cut back inside and saw his cross cleared only as far as Hanson whose ensuing shot was blocked by Porto’s defenders.

Following the half-time break, Hanson was replaced by first-year scholar Jai Bansoodeb, also playing his first game for the U18s after returning from injury.

The winger was immediately involved in the action, receiving a pass through the middle from Nathaniel Ogungbemi and sending the ball onto Boni down the left whose cross, was kept turned behind.

The ensuing corner was played short before being crossed in and falling to Boni, whose shot was kept out by the Porto keeper. The rebound was met by Klimas, who tapped it home to give the young Bees a 2-0 lead.

As the hour mark passed, Brentford continued to press as they chased a third goal. Boni freed up Jovan Kasujja down the right side, who crossed the ball into the box. Bansoodeb took possession of the cleared ball before his shot near the penalty area blocked and cleared.

Despite the visitors’ momentum, Porto managed to pull a goal back, the score sitting 2-1 on 65 minutes. Four minutes later they thought they had a second, however it was ruled offside.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, goalscorer Klimas was called into action defensively. A Porto corner fell to the back post and was crossed back in before being cleared by Klimas.

On 83 minutes, the young Bees thought they sealed the game as Giscombe broke down the left and crossed to Boni who finished from inside the box, however the offside flag was up.

Bansoodeb and Trialist B both had chances to score a third goal as the game inched closer to 90 minutes, however their respective efforts were blocked and headed over the bar.

As the game entered a lengthy stoppage-time, it remained in the balance. Boni earned a penalty for the visitors on 90+12 minutes. After being played through by Giscombe, he was taken down inside the box but not awarded a penalty. He jumped back up and was taken down again and this time, the referee pointed to the spot.

Boni stepped up and scored, securing a 3-1 win as the referee blew the full-time whistle.

Gary McDermott’s side now return to England to prepare for the upcoming Professional Development League season, beginning with Peterborough United on 9 August.

Brentford U18s: Lyon, Zetter-Plummer (Fanoiki 72), Lawal, Klimas, Ogungbemi, Cohalan, Kasujja (Trialist B 87), Ouattara, Boni, Hanson (Bansoodeb HT), Giscombe

Subs not used: Trialist A, Golding