Brentford B were defeated 3-1 by Paris Saint-Germain Under-21s in the fourth Robert Rowan Invitational at Gtech Community Stadium on Monday night.

A scoreless first half was met by a parade of goals in the second 45 minutes, Iwan Morgan equalising for the young Bees after Ilyes Housni’s early opener for the visitors. Rayan Abo El Nay scored a late brace to ensure PSG secured the win.

In front of 3,000 fans in west London, Sam Saunders’ side started brightly, taking the game to their French opponents.

After absorbing some early Brentford pressure, PSG went straight on the counterattack once in possession. Housni pushed forward in a one-vs-one against Ollie Shield and cut inside once in the box before whipping the ball into the post, the Bees able to clear the danger area.

Shield was put to the test again soon after as Zayon Chtai Telamio received the ball down the left side of the box and looked to score, the Brentford right-back up to the task as he made a timely block.

Romelle Donovan was proving a hassle for PSG and looked to score on 15 minutes. The winger made a brilliant individual run from the right side past three defenders to the edge of the box and looked to whip the ball towards goal, but Mathias Lavenette made a strong block.

As the half-hour mark ticked over Conor McManus ran onto a Gustavo Nunes pass through the PSG backline and took a diving shot at the ball, but it didn’t have enough power and was saved by Bryan Francillonne in goal for the visitors.

Telamio was it again for the French side soon after as he cut inside and looked to whip the ball into the top right corner, but his effort was high.

Down the other end Kaye Furo pounced on a loose PSG pass in their own half and played the ball centrally to Donovan who eyed the goal, but his shot also sailed high.

Out of the break it was PSG who broke the stranglehold with a well-worked goal. Eddrick Renoi crossed a dangerous ball from the right side, Housni there to meet it at the back post and tap it home from close range.

Saunders’ side was undeterred and nearly equalised on 56 minutes. After he was taken down in a one-vs-five situation on the counterattack, Donovan stepped up to take a free-kick from outside the box and forced a save from Francillonne. Furo was there for the rebound but put his effort into the side of the net.

The fresh legs of Joseph Wheeler-Henry paid off immediately as the right-back made a brilliant run down the right side before crossing the ball. His effort just missed Ethan Laidlaw at the back post.

With 20 minutes to play Wheeler-Henry looked to make a strong tackle in Brentford's box but the referee judged it worthy of a penalty. Housni stepped up to take the spot kick but his effort was matched by Ellery Balcombe who made a superb save diving to his left.

Three minutes later Riley Owen made a great run down the right side and crossed to Furo cutting through the middle, but it was too far in front of the striker.

With 10 minutes to play Saunders’ side continued to press for an equaliser and came close through Kyrie Pierre. The Bees no. 12 played the ball to Michael Olakige down the left side, the winger pushing deep into PSG’s box. He cut it back to Pierre who turned and fired, but it was deflected out for a corner.

Down the other end Renoi broke clear and found himself one-on-one with Connor Wolfheimer in goal for the Bees, Balcombe’s replacement meeting the winger and making a timely save out for a corner.

The breakthrough came for Brentford through Morgan. Played through the backline by Owen, the forward found himself one-vs-one against Francillonne and made no mistake, finding the back of the net to equalise.

The momentum was short-lived, however, as El Nay whipped two shots into the top right corner in the space of three minutes in added time, putting the game out of reach for the west Londoners and helping the French outfit to a 3-1 win.

Brentford B: Balcombe (Wolfheimer 77), Shield (Wheeler-Henry 62), McManus (Picotto 77), Stephenson, Avenell, Konak (Grey 62), Nunes (Morgan 62), Owen, Furo (Mawene 77), Donovan (Pierre 77), Laidlaw (Olakigbe 77)

Subs not used: Tavaziva, Adedokun

PSG U21s: Francillonne, Bastaraud, El Idrissi, Cordier, Lavenette, Khafi (El Nay 67), Domingos (Renoi 21), Aït Amer (Maoulida 79), Housni, Telamio (Smail 67), Yamna

Subs not used: Mouak