German-Ghanaian youngster Jeremiah Mensah registered a fine assist as Bayer Leverkusen U-19 suffered a 3-2 away loss to Villarreal U-19 in the UEFA Youth League 16th Finals.
Operating as the central playmaker in a 4-2-3-1, Mensah slipped a precise pass through for Emmanuel Owen to level at 1-1 on 11 minutes after Ãker Adelantado’s early opener for the hosts.
Leverkusen completed a swift turnaround when Ivan Massek made it 2-1 seven minutes later, finishing a move created by Montrell Culbreath as the German side responded impressively to going behind.
The visitors carried that advantage into half-time and looked comfortable for large spells, with Mensah linking play intelligently between midfield and attack.
Villarreal, however, clawed their way back in the final 20 minutes. Hugo Lopez struck to make it 2–2 in the 71st minute before right-back Daniel Budesca arrived to score the winner just two minutes later, finishing from Joselillo’s cross to complete the comeback.
Despite Mensah’s creative influence, Leverkusen could not find a late response and exited the competition.
Bayer Leverkusen U-19 will now turn their focus back to domestic action, where they next face FC Köln U-19 in the Bundesliga U-19 West.
