Highlights, report and reaction: Brentford B 0 CD Mafra U23s 2 | OneFootball

Brentford B saw their Atlantic Cup campaign begin with a 2-0 defeat to CD Mafra U23s.

In a good contest at the Estadio Algarve, Mafra were the more clinical side with Rodrigo Matos scoring both of the Portuguese team’s goals to seal the win. Brentford were the dominant side in the second half and had some great chances to get themselves back in the game but were unable to take their chances.

Niel MacFarlane’s side played a back four which consisted of Benjamin Fredrick and Conor McManus as full-backs with Josh Stephenson and Benjamin Arthur as the two centre-backs. Riley Owen, Max Dickov and Ben Kruahaus made up the central midfield positions whilst Isaac Holland, Ethan Laidlaw and Kyreece Lisbie formed a front three.

Marfa, made a good start to the game with Tavaziva called into action inside the opening minute when first team player Matos broke through.

The young Bees dealt with the early pressure well and enjoyed some good spells of possession in the opening 20 minutes.

Brentford were forced to be patient with their play with Marfa utilising a deep block and aiming to hit the Bees on the counter.

Lisbie thought he had broken through the Mafra back line when a clipped pass from Owen found the in-form forward, but the linesman called a narrow offside.

Despite all of Brentford’s dominance on the ball, it was Mafra who took the lead on the half hour mark with Matos netting from close range.

MacFarlane’s side continued to have large spells of possession up to the break but were yet to find a way through the Portuguese side.

The young Bees would have aimed to make a strong start to the second half, but they were left disappointed after Mafra doubled their lead with, Matos again finding the net after breaking through.

Again, Brentford responded well, with Holland producing a good piece of skill to beat his man on the edge of the area only for his shot to be blocked by an opposition’s defender.

Holland was causing problems down Brentford’s right flank and with Ethan Brierley and Iwan Morgan’s introduction to the game, the Bees had more fire power going forward.

Brentford kept pressing Mafra’s back line as the side looked for a route back into the game, Brierley delivered a great cross into the box on 68 minutes with Morgan just a whisker away from connecting with his head.

MacFarlane’s side were as dominant as they had been all game, with the side seeing their best chance coming through Morgan.

Again, the move started down Brentford’s right channel when Holland got in behind the Mafra defence before delivering a perfect cross to Morgan, but the striker’s effort from close range was saved well by Mark Ugboh.

With Brentford flooding men forward Mafra had a great chance to wrap the game up as they struck on the counter.

Tiago Trindade was one on one with Tavaziva but the goalkeeper stretched his body well to keep his side in the game with a smart save.

Brentford had one last chance before full-time with a well worked corner falling to Lisbie, but his shot dragged just wide of the post.

Brentford B: Tavaziva, Fredrick, McManus (Williams, 72’), Stephenson, Arthur, Owen, Holland, Dickov (Brierley, 57’), Lisbie, Krauhaus, Laidlaw (Morgan, 57’)

Subs not used: Wolfheimer, Wilcox, McSorley, Avenell, Grey, Agyei, Headman

CD Mafra U23s: Ugboh, Matos, Alves, Maiga, Precatado, Keita, Monterio, Souza, Pata, Capitao, Goncalves

Subs: Fraisl, Temi, Serra, Trindade, Claudinho, Chiqemba, Barros

Niel MacFarlane praises his side