Brentford were beaten 2-0 by Brighton and Hove Albion in their second Premier League Summer Series clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta.
Goals either side of half-time from forward Simon Adringa secured the win for the Seagulls, despite a strong attacking performance from Thomas Frank's side.
Brentford pressed high from the off, hounding keeper Jason Steele, Billy Gilmour and the Brighton defenders and forcing them to go long.
Throughout the opening 10 minutes, and the rest of the clash in Atlanta, Keane Lewis-Potter caused all sorts of problems down the flank, with Jack Hinshelwood and Facudno Buonanotte struggling to contain him.
It was Brighton who had the first real chance of the game, when Billy Gilmour intercepted a loose pass from Zanka, before playing in Joao Pedro. One-on-one with Mark Flekken, the former Watford man poked just wide, failing to add to the goal he scored in his side's first Summer Series fixture against Chelsea.
The Bees were next to try their luck on goal after a cheap free-kick was given away by Brighton 35 yards from goal. Bryan Mbeumo clipped the ball towards the back post and, at full stretch, Zanka could only poke onto the roof of the net.
Roberto De Zerbi's side were ahead after 20 minutes. After playing out from the back for most of the opening stages, Steele decided to go long, which seemed to catch both Kristoffer Ajer and Flekken out.
Winger Adringa nipped in between them and squeezed the ball into the back of the net, off the post.
Brentford continued to look dangerous in the final third. A short free-kick from Mbeumo was played to Josh Dasilva, who beat his man and played it back to the set-piece taker.
Mbeumo then lifted the ball to the back post and, before Nathan Collins could head into the back of the net, Steele palmed it out for a corner, which came to nothing.
Mbeumo was then involved again as he and Dasilva combined once more. The midfielder slid in the Cameroonian international but, as he prepared to place the ball into the bottom corner, Adam Webster made a crucial block, which deflected off the Brentford man and out for a goal-kick.
There would be one more chance for Frank's side at the end of an impressive half of football, thanks to a driving run from Dasilva through the middle of the pitch. It saw him play another great through ball, this time to Onyeka.
Yoane Wissa cut across his team-mate, before trying to play it back to Onyeka, but the ball deflected into the path of Lewis-Potter who, from a tight angle, tried to finish through a tight gap. His effort was stopped on the line by Webster, who kept out the Brentford attack again.
Just minutes into the second half, the Bees continued their attacking dominance. A cross into Wissa from the right was blocked heroically by a Brighton defender, before the rebound fell to Shandon Baptiste. The half-time substitute was unable to beat Steele, who made a solid save to keep the score at 1-0.
Adringa doubled the Seagulls' advantage just before the hour mark, however, securing his brace for the night. After some congestion in and around the Brentford box, the ball found its way out to the Ivorian in space out wide who curled into the bottom corner.
The Bees were straight back on the attack when Collins played the ball through to the lively Wissa, who picked the ball up on the edge of the area and drove at Joel Veltman. He pulled the trigger as he entered the box, but it went just wide of the Brighton goal.
Wissa was at it again with 10 minutes to play after he combined with substitute Myles Peart-Harris. The forward showed some nice footwork but was kept out again by Steele, despite a good effort on goal.
Brighton substitutes Denis Undav and Evan Ferguson had late chances to make it three, but their efforts were chipped just past the post and driven wide, respectively.
Brentford play Aston Villa in their final Summer Series game in Maryland on Sunday.
Brentford: Flekken (Strakosha 61); Ajer (Roerslev 78), Zanka (Pinnock 61), Collins (Mee 70), Henry (Bech 78); Onyeka (Damsgaard 61), Janelt (Jensen 46), Dasilva (Baptiste 46); Lewis-Potter (Olakigbe 70), Wissa, Mbeumo (Peart-Harris 78)
Brighton: Steele; Hinshelwood (Weir 65), Veltman (Turns 70), Webster (Samuels 70), Gross (Estupinan 59); Buonanotte (Mitoma 59), Gilmour (Dahoud 70), Alzate (Caicedo 65), Adingra (Undav 65); Enciso (Ferguson 46), Joao Pedro (Peupion 70)
Frank: We can learn from Brighton defeat
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank was happy with his side’s performance in the defeat to Brighton - but wants the Bees to learn from the game so they can take their game 'to the next level’.
There were plenty of elements of the west Londoners’ performance that Frank was impressed with on Wednesday evening and, if they can put in a similar performance against Aston Villa in their final Summer Series game on Sunday, the Dane is certain that they can win the game in Maryland.
The Bees boss stated: “It was another good performance. It certainly wasn’t the result we were hoping for - we always want to win. But, even in Premier League games, we always say that we win or we learn. That’s how we can improve and go to the next level.
“Today, the pressure was really good and we won the ball back lots of times in good situations. We created a lot of chances; the way we count chances, we created five big chances, they created one, plus their two goals, so it was 5-3 in that aspect.
“What we want to do is to minimise the opponent’s chances and maximise our chances so, in that sense, it was really good.
“Overall, I’m happy. I’ll have to watch the two goals back. There are always things we can do better.”
He added: “If we have the same performance [against Aston Villa], I’m convinced that we will win the game.
“Of course winning is important, but I want to have the same performance and try to edge that more - that’s my hope.”
Henry discusses Lewis-Potter partnership
Brentford defender Rico Henry has discussed the blossoming partnership he is beginning to form with winger Keane Lewis-Potter down the left during pre-season.
The duo have worked closely together in both of the Bees’ Summer Series clashes and Henry believes, with some more work, it has the potential to become something extremely exciting.
On his team-mate, Henry said: “He’s a good lad. It’s quite new playing with Keane down the left but I think our link-up has been good.
"We can probably work on the final ball and the end product but, on the whole, it’s great."
He added: “I’m looking to impact the game in both boxes. I’ve already got two assists in pre-season and I’m looking to maintain and build on that.”
Henry also described how he felt when walking out at the 70,000-seater Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the first time.
As well as the incredible aesthetics, Henry was also pleased that the stadium’s roof was closed, helping the players cope with the searing American heat.
“It was crazy,” Henry responded. “When you first walk out, all you think is how amazing it is. It’s different, we’ve never been here before, it’s new to us, it’s a great stadium.
“The closed roof and the drinks breaks helped a lot with the heat and humidity as well.
“The fans were brilliant in there today and we can’t wait for that again against Aston Villa - I’m sure that will be hot again!”