Tommi O’Reilly’s late strike was not enough as Aston Villa fell to a 2-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion in their Premier League 2 encounter at the Amex Elite Football Performance Centre.
Samy Chouchane fired the Seagulls ahead from the edge of the penalty area after 12 minutes, before Ruairi McConville headed a second just after the half-hour mark to double the hosts’ advantage.
The Young Lions, who shared a 2-2 draw on the south coast when the two sides met in the Premier League Cup in September, searched for a route back into the encounter after the break.
Omari Kellyman, Ben Chrisene, Rico Richards and Tim Iroegbunam all went close for the visitors, before Tommi O’Reilly fired home in the 87th minute to spark hope of a late fightback.
But it was Brighton who claimed all three PL2 points, with Villa’s Under-21s back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Crawley Town in the EFL Trophy.
Possession
46%Shots
12Shots On Target
8Corners
5Fouls
153
0
Cards
3
0
Both sides created openings in the final third during what was a lively start to the encounter, O’Reilly firing over from distance after seven minutes.
But it was the home side who opened the scoring as they won possession in a dangerous area and Chouchane drilled low past James Wright from the edge of the box.
Wright stood up and produced a great save to deny Mark O’Mahony moments later, while opposite number Killian Cahill made a smart stop to parry Teddy Rowe’s 25-yard free-kick at the other end.
Yet the Seagulls doubled their advantage in the 34th minute as McConville powered in a header from Luca Barrington’s corner.
Brighton goalkeeper Cahill kept out another Rowe free-kick before the break, with Wright getting down low to deny O’Mahony as the visitors trailed 2-0 at the interval.
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The hosts spurned a golden chance to establish a three-goal lead moments after the restart as Barrington, having already registered two assists, saw his strike fly over the crossbar from close range.
Kellyman twice sent efforts at Cahill before Chrisene tested the Albion stopper as Villa looked for a lifeline.
Richards was next to threaten in the 65th minute as his low shot flew wide, while Seagulls substitute Louis Flower stung the palms of Wright.
Iroegbunam’s low strike went the wrong side of the far post before Chrisene was thwarted by Cahill.
O’Reilly then gave Villa fresh hope when he converted a neat finish in the 87th minute, although the visitors could not find a late leveller as they suffered defeat.
Brighton: Cahill, McConville, Kavanagh, Atom (Flower 62'), Slater, Nilsson, Chouchane, Moder (Hinchy 45'), Baker-Boaitey (Peart 76'), Barrington, O’Mahony.
Subs: Reid, Jackson.
Aston Villa U21: Wright, Barber, Feeney, Smith, Chrisene, Teddy Rowe (Alcock 67'), Iroegbunam, Kellyman, O'Reilly, Moore, Richards (Broggio 81').
Subs: Proctor, Munroe, Borland.