PL2

Albion 4-3 Arsenal | PL2 Report

15th April
A photo of Albion U21 midfielder Cole Deeming in the 2024/25 home kit

Albion's PL2 team ensured they took their Play-Off bid to the final day of the season after overcoming Arsenal 4-3 on Monday night.

Two goals apiece from Cole Deeming and Eseosa Sule ensured the young Baggies staved off a late fightback from the Gunners, ensuring an impressive victory over one of the countries best academies at Damson Park. 

The result means Richard Beale's group could still break into the top 16 places, which would see them enter a Play-Off stage as well as receiving an invitation to compete in next season's PL International Cup tournament.

A photo of Albion forward Eseosa Sule in the 2024/25 home kit
Leading U21 talisman Eseosa Sule added two more goals to his campaign tally against Arsenal

Things got off to the perfect start at the home of Solihull Moors when - over two months since his last appearance in the 21s - central midfielder Deeming used the Gunners' wall to great effect, guiding a close-range free-kick around them and into the bottom corner to break the resistance on 15 minutes. 

Soon, Albion's youngsters were 2-0 up when Alex Williams' driving run from deep allowed him to thread target man Sule through on goal, and the Glaswegian did the necessary - providing a devastating finish beyond the visiting keeper. 

But their North London opponents would restore parity before the interval - Charles Sagoe and Will Sweet finding the target to make things interesting heading into the second period.

It was an assessment of the young Baggies' mettle after being pegged back, but they answered any questions emphatically within two minutes of the restart - Deeming lashing in an unbelievable volley to make it 3-2 to the hosts. 

A photo of Albion u21 midfielder Cole Deeming in the 2024/25 home kit
Deeming made an eye-catching return to 21s action following injury

One minute later, and Sule had his brace - capitalising on Baggies pressure inside the away penalty area before netting another impressive goal to restore their two-goal buffer in the clash once again. 

Arsenal had a chance to pile the pressure on 12 minutes from time when they awarded a spot-kick. However, shot-stopper Ben Cisse was equal to Salah Oulad M'hand's strike to keep the scores at 4-2. 

Sadly, he couldn't prevent forward Khayon Edwards finding the net from 12 yards and making it 4-3 late on, with the visitors earning another penalty during the contest. 

Luckily for Albion, though, the goal came in the fifth minute of stoppage time and from there, they were able to grind out a deserved victory and take their quest into the final day. 

Beale's charges, currently 18th (on 25 points), are set to play their last PL2 fixture of the campaign away against Middlesbrough on Friday night (ko 7pm). 

With 16th-placed Liverpool (26 points) also in action that evening but 15th-placed Nottingham Forest having played all their matches in 15th (27 points), the Baggies head to Teesside knowing victory over Boro would secure their Play-Off place. 

Albion: Cisse, Williams, Diomande (c), Mohammed, Parker, Deeming (Iddrisa 74), Crowther (Hall 74), Nelson, Whitwell (Mandey 82), Heard, Sule (Ranger 82).

Substitutes: Brady (GK). 

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