East Londoners forced to come from behind before exiting cup after spot kicks

University of East London men’s football thirds lost to Brighton fifths in a dramatic game that ended with a penalty shoot-out.

Both teams squandered leads as the game ended 4-4 in normal time. Moses Kaddu, Daniel Lavin, Festus Ametefe and Joel Kalambayi were on target for UEL, but it wasn’t enough to get the win on what ended up as a disappointing afternoon.

Kaddu opened the scoring inside the first 15 minutes after good work from Malcolm Parker. He picked out Kaddu down the left who escaped behind the defence to strike the ball home.

The second came shortly after when Lavin found himself in, with lots of space and smashed the ball past the keeper.

UEL looked to be in control but were caught out by a short corner and a shot from the edge of the area went straight in. They regained their foothold in the game shortly afterwards, however, when Ametefe got on the end of a cross from the left and tapped the ball home from 5 yards.

There was a coming together just before the break as tempers flared after a late tackle on Ametefe but the referee was able to take control.

And the east Londoners made several changes at half time and Brighton came out fighting in the second half - creating several chances.

Bailey Owen was forced into several good saves before Brighton eventually pulled one back.

Unfortunately they equalised soon after as UEL were caught short at the back and the Brighton striker ran through the middle to score.

They had the momentum now, but UEL did have their chances. Firstly, Kaddu showed good feet to get behind the defence but was unable to convert. Then Lavin missed a good opportunity in the area missing the target.

Brighton took the lead as they once again outnumbered the UEL defence down the left hand side this time. A quick one two released the winger who cut inside and finished well. This was the first time they had taken the lead in the game but couldn’t see the game out.

With 78 minutes gone, Kalambayi beat the offside trap when he was played in by Kaddu and he went on to slot the ball under the keeper from the angle.

Both teams had chances to earn the victory following that equaliser, but it went to penalties where UEL’s Kieran Baldwin and Lavin missed the decisive penalties, which meant Brighton came away victorious.

Winger John Silva cut a frustrated figure for the east Londoners after the game, he said: “When we were 3-1 up the game should have been made more comfortable, we gave Brighton the goals.

“When it comes to the penalties, it’s a lottery to see how wins, and today we’ve not got the luck we needed.”