Albion have a European win to their name – after the under-23s beat Benfica B tonight.

First-half goals from Viktor Gyokeres (penalty) and Aaron Connolly secured a 2-0 success in the Premier League International Cup.

The Seagulls could also look back on an excellent defensive performance against a Benfica side with a slick, short-passing game.

Gyokeres put them ahead from the penalty spot on 12 minutes after Mathias Normann had been fouled by giant Slovenian centre-back David Zec.

The second goal, 14 minutes later, was a beauty.

Ben White, playing at right-back, chipped a precise pass over the top which Connolly took down before cutting inside a defender and angling a precise finish across keeper Fabio Duarte and inside the far post.

It was a clinical finish - but the hosts’ 2-0 interval lead was also down to a lot of good defending.

Benfica, whose side included England under-20 cap Christopher Willock, had a lot of the ball.

Their passing and movement were sharp and inventive, most of it going through Guga, a busy little midfielder from the Algarve listed on the team sheet by his full name of Gonçalo Rodrigues.

Guga was the only visitor to really trouble Hugo Keto in the first half with a 20-yarder which the goalkeeper pushed away diving to his left.

Albion enjoyed more of the ball in the second half and chance to show they too can move the ball with some style.

Normann showed off his range of passing and Connolly, who gave Zeca lots of problems, twice angled shots wide.

Max Sanders curled a free-kick over via the top of the bar but the hosts also had to be strong defensively.

A unit built around Ben Barclay and Leo Ostigard was exactly that.

Their biggest scare came when a cross from Benny flicked off an Albion head and inches wide.