West Brom u21s 0 FC Nordsjaelland (FSN) 3: Baggies dealt test in ruthlessness by Danes in battling defeat
Albion under-21s began their Premier League International Cup adventure with a 3-0 home defeat to Danish visitors FC Nordsjaelland.
Two early goals arrived inside 21 minutes for the visitors dealt Leigh Downing's side a lesson in ruthlessness in the Baggies' continental bow in the competition. Hjalte Rasmussen and Daniel Inge Johannesson were on target before Justin Janssen's late penalty.
Albion have ties to come against visitors from Europe in group B, including Italians Juventus next week, Germany's Borussia Monchengladbach and Valencia of Spain.
The junior Baggies had their moments but were outplayed by the slick visitors, whose academy comes with a reputation in their homeland of producing talent, in the first period.
A more even contest followed after the break but the young hosts could not find the final touch to pull a goal back. The Baggies hunt for their first win of the Premier League 2 season at the sixth time of asking at home to Leeds at the club's training ground on Friday. Juventus visit The Hawthorns next Wednesday (October 8).
It is Albion's debut in the tournament, which has been running since 2014, despite finishing 18th - two places outside the qualification spots - in the PL2 last term. The club received an invitation after a higher-ranked club opted to not partake this season.
Winger Ollie Bostock had travelled with the first team to Norwich for Wednesday's Championship clash with midfielder Kevin Mfuamba a notable absence with a minor knock. Summer signing Jack Bray helped the line with another signing, Torin Ntege, on the bench.
The under-21s were without Harry Whitwell, flourishing on loan at Forest Green Rovers, and the injured Alex Williams, who made his senior bow this season. Left-back Michael Parker completed a month loan at Hereford in step two of non-league.
New Zealand youth goalkeeper Joe Wallis and defender Noah DuPont were missing due to international commitment with their country's under-20 set-up. Both are away at the under-20 World Cup in Chile and were unused substitutes as the young Kiwis lost their first tie in stoppage time against the hosts on Saturday.
Brian Okonkwo, the goalkeeper formerly of Arsenal recently signed after a successful trial period, made a fine early flying save from Malte Heyde before left-back Ingi Johannesson fired wide having advanced unchecked down the flank.
Downing's side went close inside 10 minutes as Bray turned wide on the stretch from fine Alfie Maughan work on the right.
The visitors led on 13 minutes as Rasmussen converted the rebound after first-team striker Levy Nene struck the post. Nene rounded Okonkwo but shot off-target hunting a second.
Midfielder Souleyman Mandey, playing in a forward line with Bray, header at keeper William Lykke after excellent work from Parker.
Nordsjaelland were ruthless and Icelander Johannesson popped up from left-back to thrash in low for 2-0 midway through the half.
Bray drew a fine flying save from Lykke after a neat flick from Mandey after defender Jamal Mohammed nodded the resulting corner wide.
Albion worked hard and were tenacious but the Scandinavian side moved the ball too quickly for their hosts at times.
Downing introduced Ntege and Evan Humphries at half-time and the former found the food of the left post after 30 seconds.
Okonkwo made a decent parried save to turn round the post from Villun Dalsgaard down the other end. The Danes clicked through the gears again as Rasmussen lashed wide.
Albion's Mandey drew a parried save from Lykke as the Baggies pushed for one back. Substitute Ntege then drew another save from the busy goalkeeper, who has played senior football in the Danish Superliga.
A harsh third was converted by skipper Janssen after shoving in the box from a corner as Downing's side sampled a tough first taste of continental action. Substitute striker Jaiden Francis-Caesar, from the under-18s, netted a late rebound but was frustrated to be flagged offside.
Albion u21s (4-3-3): Okonkwo; Nelson, Diomande, Mohammed, Parker (Humphries, 45); Crowther (Blackshields, 82), Mandey, Deeming (c) (Iddrisa, 61); McDonald (Ntege, 45), Maughan, Bray (Francis-Caesar, 61).
Subs not used: Brady, Letlat.
FC Nordsjaelland: Lykke, Gustafsen (Klang, 84), Rutkjaer, Tuka, Johannesson (Bertelsen, 71), Janssen (c), Rasmussen (Palsnark, 84), Heyde, Nene (Sein-Monsen, 71), Berthelsen, Dalsgaard (Saeidu, 61).
Subs not used: Kristoffersen.
Attendance: 212
Referee: Aaron Jackson
