ALBION Under-23s’ Premier League International Cup campaign ended in a 3-2 defeat to Wolfsburg last night.

Seagulls already knew they could not progress but that did not prevent them putting up a determined effort at Lancing in an entertaining contest with the group winners.

Bojan Radulovic and Teddy Jenks got the Seagulls’ goals but Wolfsburg carved out a win through Julian Justvan, Anton Stach and Mamoudou Karamoko (penalty).

Full-back Romaric Yapi and goalkeeper Hugo Keto caught the eye as coach Simon Rusk made six changes from the side which lost 1-0 to Leicester in Albion’s last league outing.

The German side were quickly into their stride and Jannis Heuer could have given them a fifth-minute lead but was off target at the far post.

Keto got his body behind a Yannik Moker strike from the edge of the box five minutes later.

A swift break down Wolfsburg’s left was only halted when Warren O’Hora tugged back an opponent to earn a caution as the visitors continued to press.

It was not all one-way traffic, though, and Peter Gwargis was denied well by keeper Niklas Klinger after 18 minutes after a Yapi break.

Omar Marmous placed a finish wide when clean through a minute later but Keto was beaten on 25 minutes when Justvan’s low strike from the corner of the area arrowed in at his near post.

Yapi’s powerful runs down the right were rewarded on 32 minutes when his superb break and cross was finished by Radulovic for the equaliser.

Wolfsburg’s lead was restored in the 39th minute when Stach’s deflected strike wrong-footed Keto.

Keto prevented a third when he was out swiftly to deny Marmoush when he was clean through.

Albion’s thought they had levelled in the 56th minute from a corner but Wolfsburg cleared amid a scramble.

Yapi, with another fast break from right-back, tested the keeper with a firm drive before Swede Gwargis fired another effort into the side netting.

The Seagulls’ determined efforts to get back on level terms were dealt a major blow in the 70th minute when Gwargis gave away a penalty for a foul on Karamoko, who sent Keto the wrong way from the spot.

Sub Ole Pohlmann could have added a fourth but pulled his shot across goal and wide of the far post.

Moments later a good passing move was finished by Jenks with a low hard strike after sub Archie Davies figured prominently in the build up.