Under-23s bow out of Premier League International Cup

Our Under-23s' run in the Premier League International Cup came to an end in the quarter-finals against Dinamo Zagreb at Stevenage on Tuesday night.

A tight, tactical affair between two evenly-balanced teams was ultimately decided in two two-minute spells in the second half.

The first spell included the winning goal on 63 minutes when Mario Cuze volleyed home Damian Kadzior's cross. A minute later, Paris Maghoma skied a decent chance from Tashan Oakley-Boothe's pass.

The second spell came as we chased the game late on. Harvey White's free-kick from 30 yards was turned over by Dinko Horkas and from the resulting corner, Japhet Tanganga powered a header just wide. Horkas excelled again to tip over Shilow Tracey's header in injury time and, after the dismissals of Tracey and Josip Calusic for their part in a coming-together in the closing seconds, that was that - 1-0 to the visitors.

We started brightly, pressed high and put our Croatian visitors under pressure in the opening exchanges without carving out a clear-cut chance. Dinamo Zagreb fired a warning on 18 minutes when Calusic headed against the post, the first time the ball had been in our box.

Dinamo Zagreb began to warm to the task after that and there was a chance apiece before the break. Armando Shashoua snatched a shot over from 16 yards on 33 minutes and Antonio Marin sliced wide from close range after a sweeping counter-attack.

Marin forced the first saves of note from Brandon Austin either side of the hour mark as Dinamo Zagreb got on top at the start of the second half. They then made the key breakthrough on 63 minutes when Kadzior's cross from the left looped to the far post and Cuze drilled home on the volley from 10 yards.

To their credit, the team managed to stem that tide, push Dinamo Zagreb back again and create four chances to equalise.

The first came a minute after the goal as Oakley-Boothe squared for Maghoma who lifted his shot over from 12 yards. On 79 minutes, White's free-kick looked destined for the top corner until Horkas tipped over. From the corner, Tanganga timed his run perfectly to meet White's delivery and power his header towards goal, only to see the ball flash just wide.

The final chance arrived in the 91st minute and produced the save of the night from Horkas. Maghoma's cross from the right found Tracey darting in at the near post only to see his glancing header tipped over at full stretch by the goalkeeper. Tracey's night ended in further disappointment as he and Calusic were sent off. It wasn't to be.

Key moment

Usually you would have to pick out the only goal of the game as the key moment but we'll call this one a draw between Cuze's winner and Horkas' fine reflex save to keep out Tracey's header late on, preserving Dinamo Zagreb's lead and seeing them over the finish line.

Coach's view

Under-23s Coach Wayne Burnett said: "We're obviously bitterly disappointed. We had lots of possession without really penetrating. There were limited chances on offer for both teams. Dinamo Zagreb came with a game plan and it worked well for them. They played deep and we found it hard to break them down. We had three or four decent chances and their goalkeeper made some good saves but when those opportunities present themselves, you have to take them. So yes, we're bitterly disappointed but we have to pick ourselves up because we have an important league fixture against Chelsea on Friday and we have to be ready for that."

Our Under-23s face Chelsea in the Premier League 2 back at Stevenage on Friday (7pm).

Match data

Premier League International Cup, quarter-final

Goal: Dinamo Zagreb - Cuze 63.

Yellow cards: Dinamo Zagreb - Gjira 45+1, Cuze 60.

Red cards: Spurs - Tracey 90+2; Dinamo Zagreb - Calusic 90+2.

Referee: Will Finnie.

Venue: Lamex Stadium, Stevenage.

Weather: Clear, nine degrees.

Attendance: 438.