Brighton U21s 2-1 PSG U21s – Premier League International Cup
Brighton & Hove Albion’s under-21 side beat Paris Saint-Germain’s under-21s 2-1 at Lancing in the Premier League International Cup.
Younes Ibrahim scored both Albion goals, both from free kicks just outside the box.
Those strikes came either side of a well-worked equaliser from Quentin Ndjantou.
It was Ibrahim’s night from start to finish – he seized the opportunity to shine.
The midfielder took the game away from a talented PSG group with two set-piece finishes. They will live long in the memory of everyone who watched from the touchline at Lancing.
PSG found a route back into the contest through Ndjantou, who finished off a slick one-two to level the scores. The young Seagulls pushed ahead once more in what was a notable scalp for Shannon Ruth’s academy side.
Fixtures against continental opposition of this calibre do not come along often for Brighton’s development squad.
The result caps a productive week for Ibrahim personally.
It also arrives amid a busy period for the wider club, with the first team still buoyant from the comeback victory at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
Pascal Gross was the star man for Huzeler’s side.
Ndjantou Strikes Back Before Ibrahim Doubles Up
The similarity between the two strikes, both struck from comparable distance and angle, only underlined how deliberately and well-drilled Ibrahim’s technique has become.
The goal completed a remarkable individual display and capped an excellent run of form for the midfielder.
Five nights before the PSG game, Ibrahim had scored in Brighton’s 3-0 Premier League 2 win over Leicester City.
That continued a rich vein of scoring form heading into the visit of the French champions.
Midfielder Pushing Towards Senior Recognition
He has also tasted life around the senior squad, named among the substitutes for Brighton’s 5-0 win at Coventry City, though he is yet to make a competitive first-team appearance.
Speaking about Ibrahim’s development ahead of the PSG fixture, head coach Shannon Ruth was full of praise for how the midfielder has expanded his game this season.
“Younes is in a wonderful spot at the moment. He has just found a way of adapting his game.
“He can play deep because he takes the ball so well. He’s a real threat in and around the box, and his delivery in set pieces is high level. We’re excited for Younes this season.”
Ibrahim Makes the Difference Against PSG
Those words were borne out in full against PSG. Ibrahim’s ability to sit deeper and still influence matches, allied to the set-piece quality Ruth referenced. Proving the difference between the two academy sides.
Brighton held on for the remainder of the game, defending resolutely against a PSG side unwilling to give up on a comeback, to secure a deserved and hard-fought victory. Full details of the win were first reported in The Argus coverage of Brighton U21s vs PSG U21s.
Selected Player Ratings: Brighton U21s starters and impact substitutes
Younes Ibrahim (Midfield) — 9/10: The outstanding performer on the pitch. Scored both Brighton goals from near-identical free-kicks. Showed composure and technique of a genuinely high standard. His delivery from dead-ball situations was the difference between the two sides all evening. His willingness to sit deep and dictate play added another dimension to his performance.
George Munday — 7/10: Played a key role in the opening goal, drawing the foul just outside the box that Ibrahim converted with such precision. Showed good awareness to draw contact in a dangerous area and remained a threat throughout the first half. Forced PSG’s defenders into uncomfortable decisions on multiple occasions.
Miah Oriola — 7/10: Central to Brighton’s second goal, winning the foul that set up Ibrahim’s match-winning free-kick with smart movement into space. Combined well with teammates in the build-up throughout the second half. Showed exactly the kind of running that repeatedly troubled PSG’s back line as the game opened up.
Brighton’s Collective Effort Stands Out
Beyond that trio, Brighton’s collective effort was evident in how comfortably they controlled long spells of the match against technically gifted opposition.
The back line limited PSG to isolated moments of real danger. Ndjantou’s well-taken equaliser stood out as one of the few clear openings the visitors created all night.
Ruth’s side showed the kind of tactical discipline that has clearly been drilled into the group. This was particularly clear in how they reorganised after conceding to avoid further damage and see out the closing stages without alarm. That balance between defensive solidity and the licence given to Ibrahim to influence games from a deeper role. This was exactly as Ruth described and was central to seeing the victory through to the final whistle. It was the sort of collective performance that will please a coaching staff keen to build resilience into a young group facing increasingly demanding fixtures.
A Significant Result for Brighton’s Academy
Overall, this was a result that will please everyone connected with Brighton’s academy set-up.
Beating a club of PSG’s stature, built on two moments of individual brilliance from one of the group’s brightest talents, is exactly the sort of result that under-21 football at this level is designed to produce.
For Ibrahim, and for the coaching staff who have nurtured his set-piece development, the night at Lancing offered further evidence that the club’s investment in the fine details of the game is paying dividends on the pitch.
