VCF Mestalla took on Brighton & Hove Albion FC U21 on Wednesday the 8th of March at 8:30 pm (CET) at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre, Lancing,  West Sussex in the quarter-finals of the Premier League International Cup.

 VCF Mestalla go through to the semi-finals after beating Brighton and Hove Albion FC U21 in a knockout tie by a 2-3 scoreline in a cold and drizzly evening in West Sussex as their ubeaten run in the competition continues.   

The b team pulled off a second-half comeback through goals from Diego López, Ismael Santana and Jesús Santiago ‘Yellu’ to progress to the semifinals and join the likes of PSV Eindhoven U21 who beat Everton FC U21 by 0-3 with the rest of the ties yet to be played Fulham FC U21–AC Sparta Prague U21 and Liverpool FC U21 – Crystal Palace FC U21.

VCF  Mestalla came out looking to dictate the play and tempo of the game and enjoyed two meaningful chances inside the opening quarter-hour mark through a Diego López cross-strike which went a whisker wide of the post, and then a Martín Tejón long range effort which fizzed past the angle.  

Imari Samuels made it 1-0 to Brighton and Hove Albion FC U21 over the midway point of the first-half.  

Despite the set-back VCF had further chances through a Martín Tejón long range drive and then a double chance from Diego López who was denied twice by Tom Mcgill.   

Persistence paid dividends right after the restart when Diego López bundled the ball home past Tom Mcgill after getting on the end of a fine Rubén Iranzo delivery from the right-hand side to get VCF Mestalla back on level terms away at Brighton and Hove Albion FC U21.

Ismael Santana completed the comeback for VCF Mestalla following a swift counterattack started by Martín Tejón and finished off by the Canary Islander who poked it past Tom Mcgill to put VCF Mestalla in front with his very first goal for VCF Mestalla.  

VCF Mestalla turned the game on its head in just 15 minutes and had further chances to double their lead with yet another Isma Santana chance but was denied by Tom Mcgill who stuck out his leg to make the save.

Jack Hinshelwood made two apiece to Brighton and Hove Albion FC U21 from a corner kick that VCF Mestalla failed to clear.

VCF Mestalla refused to back down as Jesús Santiago ‘Yellu’ managed to finish off Ivan Muñoz’s assist deep into stoppage time to send VCF Mestalla into the Premier League International Cup semifinals and extend their unbeaten run in the competition.