Stunning second-half goals from Ibrahim Fullah and Kai Enslin earned Charlton U21s a point against Birmingham City in the Premier League Cup group stages at Princes Park on Tuesday night.
In a game of two halves, Blues held a two-goal lead at the break thanks to strikes from O'Shea Ellis and Sahid Kamara.
The Addicks responded after the interval, though, with Enslin's effort from the halfway line halving the deficit on 55 minutes before Fullah picked out the top corner in the final stages to give Charlton a deserved share of the spoils.
The draw keeps Chris Lock's men unbeaten in Group H and moves them on to five points from their opening three group matches.
The Addicks were the first team to break into the opposing box on two minutes. Fullah got in behind his man on the left but his low cross was grabbed by visiting stopper Brad Mayo.
Blues captain Byron Pendleton shot well wide from 25 yards, with what was the first strike of the game and, on 16 minutes, Harvey Kedwell shot wide for Charlton after a corner was only half cleared.
A stunning strike from Ellis gave Birmingham the lead midway through the first half and they came close to a second when Ben Woodskou had an effort deflected just wide.
Birmingham had been the better side in the first half and they doubled their advantage just before the break when former Addick Kamara made himself a yard of space inside the box before firing into the corner.
Charlton pulled one back 10 minutes after the restart - and in some style - through Enslin.
After visiting goalkeeper Mayo had rushed off of his line, the loose ball dropped for Enslin, who picked out the back of the net from inside the centre circle.
The goal gave the Addicks a real boost and a dangerous, low cross from goalscorer Enslin just evaded the outstretched leg of substitute Kaheim Dixon in the middle on 68 minutes.
Mayo twice got his body behind Enslin strikes as Charlton continued to push for an equaliser and, on 76 minutes, after the keeper could only parry a Rylah cross, the powerful rebound from Harvey Kedwell was brilliantly blocked by a Blues defender.
The Addicks were applying all the pressure but Birmingham came within a whisker of restoring their two-goal lead on 83 minutes when Zaid Betteka got through one-on-one but hit his effort against the post.
It looked as if Birmingham would take maximum points in the Group H clash until, in the 92nd minute, Fullah whipped a left-footed strike into the top corner to earn the south-east Londoners a point that their second-half display deserved.
Charlton: T.Reid; Asiimwe, Toure, Laqeretabua, Bower (Dixon 60); Kedwell (c), Mwamba (Wales 73), Fullah; Rylah, Hobden, Enslin
Subs: Woodham, Wales, Dixon, Hunter, R.Reid
Goals: Enslin 55, Fullah 90+2
Highlights: (Supporters need a CharltonTV subscription to watch the highlights below. Purchase your subscription here)
Charlton fans can support the academy by signing up to the Valley Gold scheme. Valley Gold enables fans to support the club’s academy in unearthing the talents of tomorrow, as well as giving them the chance to win cash prizes.
Click here for more information on how you can become a Valley Gold member.
