Duffus delivers again for under-21s

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Albion U21s 1, Real Sociedad 0: Two wins out of two in Premier League International Cup.

Bruce Talbot

2024-10-22T21:30+01:00

Josh Duffus checks he was onside after putting Albion in front. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Josh Duffus scored his eighth goal of the season as our men's under-21s earned their second win in five days to keep them top of Group D in the Premier League International Cup.

The striker was among the scorers in the 3-0 win over RB Leipzig on Friday and his close-range header made the difference on Tuesday against Real Sociedad.

Duffus’s goal was the least Albion deserved for a dominant first-half display when they should have added to their lead. The Spaniards were more threatening after the break and they were denied a stoppage-time equaliser by Killian Cahill, who made a fine save to keep out a volley from Santino Samuyiwa.

Head coach Shannon Ruth said, "We're finding different ways to win which is a really good thing. We want to dominate the ball but we also want the players to defend their box well and be resilient. With the ball I thought we were outstanding in the first half but not so good with it in the second. But we defended extremely well.

"At under-21s level to keep clean sheets is not so easy so to have four goals and two clean sheets in five days is great, we're really pleased with the boys' efforts."

Albion got on top early and it felt like a goal was coming as they pinned the Spaniards back for long spells.

Marcus Ifill has lift-off. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood

Ruairi McConville escaped tight marking but couldn’t quite convert Jacob Slater’s free-kick, Ed Turns tested Lander Olasagasti with a close-range header and Marcus Ifill, who was a handful down the right, looked certain to set up Duffus for a tap-in but his pass was fractionally behind Albion’s No.9.

No matter. In the 24th minute Joe Knight threaded a great pass between two defenders for Cam Peupion to run onto. The Australian took a touch and, spotting Duffus unmarked, gave him a simple close-range finish at the far post.

Duffus had two attempts at converting Caylan Vickers’ pass and Vickers himself headed Ifill’s excellent cross over in a dominant first half by Albion.

Cam Peupion gives two Sociedad players the slip. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood

Sociedad had offered little threat, but Albion skipper McConville had to get in the way of a powerful shot from Sydney Osazuwa and as the second half wore on and the rain lashed down Albion had to batten down the hatches.

They still threatened on the counter-attack and Peupion volleyed over from a tight angle when Sociedad failed to clear a free-kick while sub Remiero Moulton went close to a late second with a volley which was parried by Olasagastl.