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.

Neil 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 Krauhaus 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 Marley 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 backline when a clipped pass from Owen found the in-form forward, but the offside flag was up.

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.

Mafra doubled their lead early in the second half with Matos adding his second of the game.

Brentford responded well with Holland producing a good piece of skill to beat his man on the edge of the area before seeing a shot blocked by a 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 firepower going forward.

Brentford kept pressing Mafra’s backline as the side looked for a route back into the game. Brierley delivered a great cross into the box on 68 minutes that was just out of the reach of Morgan.

MacFarlane’s side were as dominant as they had been all game, with the side creating their best chance for 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 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 he dragged his shot 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

MacFarlane: We played some great football

Neil MacFarlane praised his side despite falling to a 2-0 loss to CD Mafra U23s.

"I’m really happy with the performance, especially in the second half," said MacFarlane.

“We had countless opportunities to score but it just didn’t fall for us today. We’ve played some great football.

"Our attitude and application is first-class. It just didn’t fall for us but I’ve got no complaints."