A pair of stunning strikes from distance gave Cardiff City’s Development Squad a 2-1 victory over Brentford’s Development Squad.
The Bees travelled to South Wales having lost just one of their last nine in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South and matched their Championship opponents.
But they could do nothing to keep out the two goals scored by the home side and that, ultimately, was the only difference between the teams as Luke Norris’ late penalty proved to only be a consolation.
Brentford started brightly and could have been ahead inside the first three minutes.
Norris had a shot blocked and when the resulting throw in was worked inside to Sam Saunders, he fired a shot inches wide from 20 yards.
Cardiff had some players on show that had played at the highest levels.
Stephen McPhail, who has played in a European Cup Final for Leeds United, started to run the game after a slow start.
He picked his passes and allowed the home side to dominate possession.
However, Brentford’s well-marshalled defence restricted Cardiff to half chances in the first period as Sam Griffiths and Aaron Pierre excelled.
Kadeem Harris sliced a shot wide and Richard Lee saved at the feet of Jesse Darko but Brentford largely had Cardiff at arms’ length.
And when they started to shut McPhail down, they took control.
Cardiff goalkeeper Elliott Parish made a fine stop to prevent Stuart Dallas sliding in at the far post and finishing off a quick break and the same player had an effort blocked from the resulting corner.
Saunders shot over from distance and Luke Norris had a low effort saved before Etien Velikonja, who cost Cardiff a reported €2m when he signed in the summer, headed wide.
Norris came within a whisker of opening the scoring just before half time when he flicked a header from a Saunders free kick inches wide but the teams went in to the break level.
The start of the second half saw both teams had chances and it seemed a matter of time until a goal went in.
A Dallas volley was blocked and Jake Reeves fired the rebound wide before a low Antonio German shot was saved by Parish.
Lee got down well to deny Harris and Ben Nugent headed wide from close range as both teams went for it in the opening minutes of the second 45.
Jesse Darko shot wide for Cardiff and Lee kept out another Harris shot before Joe Ralls had a shot blocked.
Norris met a Dallas cross on the stretch and forced a save from Parish before Cardiff opened the scoring just before the hour mark.
The Bees never really recovered after Sam Griffiths was dispossessed by Darko and when Ralls dummied a ball inside, Velikonja lashed a left foot shot in to the top corner.
Brentford tried to respond and took the game to Cardiff – substitute Alfie Mawson had a shot blocked and then a header cleared off the line by Declan John.
A Saunders free kick deflected wide and Griffiths shot wide on the turn when the corner came in.
Dallas had a shot blocked and German shot across the face of goal but Cardiff had chances on the break as the game stretched.
Lee saved a deflected Velikonja effort and Darko sliced a shot wide for the hosts before Dallas blazed wide when a German cross reached him at the far post.
Mawson made a superb tackle when Velikonja was through on goal but Brentford couldn’t completely clear their lines and Ralls smashed a shot in to the top corner from 25 yards to seal the win.
Lee saved from substitute Gethyn Hill but the Cardiff striker’s night ended in unfortunate circumstances when he collided with the Brentford goalkeeper and was taken off on a stretcher.
Brentford kept pushing for a goal to give them a chance of getting something from the game – Adams fired narrowly over from 20 yards and Reeves missed the target with a low shot when a corner was half cleared.
Referee John Farries signalled six minutes of stoppage time and that gave Brentford renewed hope.
A Norris shot deflected over and a Ralls shot was blocked at the other end before The Bees grabbed a lifeline.
Adams darted past four or five defenders and was brought down by John.
Referee Farries pointed to the spot and Norris smashed home to reduce the arrears.
But there was no time left to find an equaliser and Brentford were beaten in South Wales.
Cardiff City Development Squad: Elliott Parish; Luke Coulson, Adedeji Oshilaja, Ben Nugent (sub Josh Yorwerth 61 mins), Declan John; Filip Kiss, Stephen McPhail, Joe Ralls; Etien Velikonja, Jesse Darko, Kadeem Harris (sub Gethyn Hill 77 mins (sub Theo Wharton 85 mins))
Subs (not used): David Richards, Tommy O’Sullivan
Bookings: Kiss (55 mins)
Brentford Development Squad: Richard Lee; Leon Redwood (sub Josh Clarke 60 mins), Sam Griffiths, Aaron Pierre (sub Alfie Mawson h/t), Scott Barron; Jake Reeves; Stuart Dallas, Sam Saunders (sub Tyrell Miller-Rodney 72 mins), Charlie Adams; Luke Norris, Antonio German
Subs (not used): Joe Taylor
Bookings: Reeves (45 mins)
By Chris Wickham