Under-21s come from behind to defeat Zagreb

A brace from Oliver Irow saw our Under-21s come from behind to pick up their first win of 2025 against Dinamo Zagreb at the Lamex Stadium on Wednesday night.

Despite dominating proceedings, we found ourselves behind at the break after a cruel deflection off an outstretched Max McKnight gave the visitors the lead in first-half stoppage time.

Shortly after the restart though, a brilliant first-time finish from Irow quickly levelled the game before a jinking run into the area saw him hauled down and awarded a penalty, which he powerfully converted to the left.

Fresh from signing his first professional contract, George Feeney made his debut at this level, while there were more minutes for Ronny Moncur and Ellis Lehane as they all stepped up from the Under-18s, with our very young side able to see out the final minutes to take victory in our fourth and final Premier League International Cup outing.

The outcome makes it back-to-back positive results for the group, having also picked up a point against Norwich City in the league at Hotspur Way on Saturday.

The game burst into life in the very first minute as Irow won the ball on the half-way line and carried it into the Zagreb half, setting Leo Black into the area, but his shot was comfortably saved by the keeper. A few minutes later and McKnight was the next to fire goalwards as the visiting stopper played the ball straight to him and he had an ambitious attempt from 40 yards, but his effort was also saved.

Dinamo Zagreb then threatened at the other end as they had a penalty appeal waved away by the referee before having two efforts blocked, while a third was smashed against the near post.

That early flurry was followed by only a handful of chances, as Max Robson's volley from inside the area was well saved, before seeing his deflected effort wrong-foot the keeper but sneak just wide. Those chances sandwiched Irow's first effort of the game, which was also saved, while our final chance of the half fell to Rio Kyerematen who blazed over from the edge of the box.

However, there was one final twist at the other end of the first period, as a speculative cross took the cruelest of deflections off an outstretched McKnight, enough to loop it over a stranded Aaron Maguire and into the back of the net, giving Dinamo the lead going into the interval.

We didn't take long to respond after the restart, as Yusuf Akhamrich burst down the left and fired a low cross into the area, which was met by an arriving Irow whose skilful first-time finish guided the ball across the keeper and into the back of the net to level the game. Eight minutes later and Irow completed the turnaround, his jinking run through the visitors' half and into the box saw him hauled down by David Lagancic, with the 18-year-old firing home a powerful spot-kick to the keeper's right to put us into the lead.

An attritional battle then followed as the visitors looked for a way back into the game, but they couldn't carve out any clear-cut chances as we defended resolutely - which included big challenges from Maeson King, Robson and Pele Arganese-McDermott.

The result means Wayne Burnett's side lift themselves off the bottom of Group A, finishing in seventh overall, ahead of Wolves and just a point behind the visitors and Reading.

Match data

Goals: Spurs - Oliver Irow 47, 55 (pen); Dinamo Zagreb - McKnight (OG) 45+1.

Yellow cards: Spurs - Kyerematen 39, Arganese-McDermott 90; Dinamo Zagreb - Miljak 22, Mikic 48, Horvat 51, Sepic 63, Orlic 68, Rimac 90.

Referee: Emily Heaslip.

Venue: Lamex Stadium, Stevenage.

Attendance: 362

Weather: Dry, two degrees.