Kieran Baldwin reacts to UEL 3rds action packed Cup match.
The University of East London 3rd’s fell short of a place in the last 32 of the BUCS South Eastern Conference Plate as they lost 5-4, after a dramatic penalty shootout against University of Brighton 5th’s.
Both sides’ squandered leads, as UEL threw away a half time 3-1 lead. The game ended 4-4 after 90 minutes, with goals from Moses Kaddu, Daniel Lavin, Festus Ametefe and Joel Kalambayi in normal time. Penalty misses from Kieran Baldwin and Lavin sealed UEL’s exit, as they left frustrated.
Moses Kaddu opened the scoring for UEL 15 minutes in, after good work from Malcolm Parker picked out Kaddu sprinting down the left and past the defence to strike the ball home.
Caught out
UEL’s second came shortly after when Lavin found himself in lots of space and drove his shot past the Brighton keeper.
The home side looked to be in control, but were caught out by a short corner from Brighton and a shot from the edge of the area beat the UEL keeper Bradley Owens.
The hosts’ regained control shortly after when Ametefe tapped the ball in from close range to restore UEL’s two goal advantage.
In the second half, Brighton forced several good saves from Owens before they eventually pulled one back – with a superb curled shot which nestled into the top right corner.
Brighton equalised shortly after, as UEL were caught short at the back and the Brighton striker ran through the middle of the absent UEL defence to level the tie.
Penalties loomed
The away side continued to pressure UEL but the home side still looked dangerous. Firstly Kaddu showed good feet to get behind the Brighton defence but was unable to convert. Then Lavin missed the target from inside the area.
Brighton took a shock lead midway through the second half, as they again outnumbered UEL’s defence down the left hand side. A quick one-two released the winger who cut inside to finish.
Despite Brighton taking the lead for the first time they could not see the game out. UEL were back level after 78 minutes, Kalambayi beat the offside trap as Kaddu played him in and he went on to slot the ball under the Brighton keeper.
Both teams had chances to win it but penalties loomed and UEL midfielders Baldwin and Lavin missed the decisive penalties that meant Brighton came away victorious.
Speaking after the Game, UEL winger John Silva cut a frustrated figure, “When we were 3-1 up the game should have been made more comfortable, we gave Brighton the goals today.
“When it comes to the penalties, it’s a lottery to see who wins, and today we’ve not got the luck we needed.”
UEL now return to league action, as they travel to University of Essex 4ths in search of getting back to winning ways.