Video by @MrBoywunder
Joao Carlos Teixeira may have had his loan spell at Brentford cancelled due to a lack of playing time, but the youngster was on the double tonight when the Reds Reserves edged out Middlesbrough in what turned out to be one crazy goal fest. The Portuguese youngster is wracking up his fair share of the plaudits in the early press, but upon further inspection, Jordan Ibe may actually be the one to watch with the English winger laying claim to three assists.
The 17-year old, who has been an unused substitute for the first team on numerous occasions this season, was part of Alex Inglethorpe’s u21 side that beat Boro 4-3 last night — blowing a first half three goal advantage in the process. Local boy Craig Roddan opened the scoring only four minutes in with a long range effort and Teixeira scored his first after Ibe brushed Birger Solberg Meling aside with a combination of pace and trickery before cutting the ball back for the Portuguese midfielder to finish. By the time the 25th minute rolled around, Jordan Rossiter was on the score sheet as well when the youngster turned Brad Smith’s cross into his path to tap home.
It looked like the baby-Reds were going to stroll to victory until Jacob Butterfield reminded them that the hosts were still alive with an audacious 30-yard effort. Teixeira scored his second — and Ibe picked up his third assist of the night — when the winger chipped the ball into his path to smash home only moments later, but it would be a nervy end to the night as Emmanuel Ledesma and Seb Hines restored some pride for Boro.
The utter capitulation of a team that included both Martin Kelly and Tiago Ilori aside, Teixeira and Ibe amped up the positives with promising displays. Neither of them look quite ready for first time action quite yet, but if last nights display counts for anything at all, they’re in the very least going to be catching the bosses eye.
