MIDDLESBROUGH'S youngsters had their very own Basel and Steaua Bucharest moment after mounting a sensational Riverside comeback to beat Borussia Monchengladbach.

Mark Tinkler's Under-21s trailed 2-0 at half-time to their German visitors in the Premier League International Cup on Wednesday night.

And that's how it remained until the final stages, before Boro remarkably scored three goals in the final 11 minutes.

Ajay Matthews got the comeback rolling with a header into the bottom corner before Jack Stott levelled with a stunning strike six minutes later.

Stott almost won it with a second strike from distance that flashed just wide but it was highly-rated Matthews who was the hero, firing in from a tight angle two minutes into stoppage time.

Matthews, 18, who has been with Boro for a decade and made his first team debut last season, recently signed a new contract at his hometown club until 2027, which came on the back of reported transfer interest from the likes of Celtic, Rangers and Newcastle United.

As well as Matthews, the likes of Harley Hunt, George McCormick and Fin Cartwright, who have all played for the first team, were named in a strong Boro side. Sonny Finch was also again involved. The forward is currently on loan at MK Dons but not playing for the League Two outfit.

Boro lost their Premier League International Cup opener to Group B leaders Lyon last week but climbed to fifth thanks to their first win and are now just three points off top spot with a game in hand. They're next in action in the competition when they host Benfica next month.

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Delighted boss Tinkler told the club: "The boys showed tremendous resilience and character.

"We were 2-0 down at half time but had played some decent stuff. We had to be better in the final third but we didn't deserve to be 2-0 down. We were positive at half-time with the players and they kept going in the second half and got the win. They kept doing the right things and thankfully they got their rewards.

"Lyon was a really good experience, we played really well and deserved something, When you're 2-0 down you think is it going to go the same way but the lads stuck at it and this was a great experience for them.

"We try to develop young players but when you win games it breeds confidence. If you keep going and keep trying to do the right things you never know how the game will turn out.

"It's a great learning experience. You don't always get what you deserve which I thought was the case in the first game against Lyon, but we got what we deserved tonight.

"The fans turned out again which we really appreciate. They stayed until the end and we rewarded them with the winning goal."

Middlesbrough: Glover, Gitau, Woolston, Hunt, McCormick, Finch, Cartwright, Stott, Lennon (Nkrumah 56'), Bakre (Simpson 78'), Matthews

Subs not used: Lindo, Patterson-Powell, Coulson, Traore, Connor