Albion knocked out of International Cup by Athletic Bilbao

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Charlie Hanson

2025-02-26T21:27+00:00

Josh Robertson. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Our men’s under-21s exited the Premier League International Cup at the quarter-final stage as they were beaten 5-1 by Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night.

It was a tough ending to an impressive run to this point in the competition for Albion, having won all four of their group stage games. The match also marked the third consecutive season Albion have exited the competition at this stage.

Shannon Ruth’s team found themselves 5-1 at half-time. Benat Garcia put the visitors in front after five minutes when he charged down Hugo Fisher’s clearance and diverted the ball over the line.

Albion conceded five goals in the first half. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

A second followed six minutes later as Iker Valera turned in Asier Hierro’s strike and he made it a brace almost immediately with a 20-yard drive into the bottom corner.

Albion pulled one back to make it 3-1 with a terrific goal. Jamie Mullins - returning after a month injury layoff - raced onto Joe Knight’s through ball and lobbed the onrushing Oier Gastesi.

Jamie Mullins pulled a goal back for Albion midway through the first half. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Our hopes of a comeback were dashed though when Javier Elias added a fourth, and a fifth followed when striker Hierro Campo fired in at Fisher’s near-post.

Albion tightened up at the back in the second and weren't far away from finding a second goal when Nehemiah Oriola fired into the side netting, but the damage of the first half couldn't be overcome.

The under-21s are next in action on Monday as they take on Leeds United in Premier League 2.

Albion team: Fisher, Tasker (Mackley 62), Simmonds, Penman, Slater, Howell, Robertson (Nti 62), Knight, Oriola (Bashir 83), Belmont (West 62), Mullins (Owusu 46).