Pedro Lima's stunning long range strike was cancelled out by a Stoke second half fightback in a 4-2 Premier League Two defeat for Norwich City's Under-21s on Monday night in the Potteries.

Midfielder Lima, who is on loan this season from Brazilian club Palmeiras,  put Alan Neilson's squad ahead in the first half but Nathan Lowe levelled from the spot three minutes after the interval at their Clayton Wood academy complex.

Jack Griffiths put Stoke in front before impressive Canaries' forward Ken Aboh looked to have salvaged a point late on, until the Potters hit back with substitute Kahrel Reddin and the excellent Emre Tezgel sealing the home win.

Vicente Reyes and Jaden Warner were the only first team squad members involved for the visitors.

First team head coach David Wagner had indicated prior to the weekend's FA Cup tie against Bristol Rovers Jacob Sorensen could get development minutes after his long term lay-off following surgery related to pelvic issues.

But the Danish midfielder was a notable absentee after he featured for the last 20 minutes of the 1-1 third round draw at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Neilson's young side went into the game ninth in Premier League Two, after hammering Manchester City's Under-21s 6-0 prior to the festive period, with a strong City line up that featured first teamers Grant Hanley, Adam Forshaw, Liam Gibbs and Przemyslaw Placheta.

Stoke were languishing in 19th at kick-off, but did pick up wins over their Nottingham Forest and Blackburn counterparts in the previous two development league games. 

Potters' midfielder Griffiths had the first real chance for either side when he headed wide from inside the area in the fifth minute.

Harry Brooke's free kick clipped the post for the Canaries, before the highly-rated Aboh's snapshot drew a smart stop from Tommy Simkin.

Reyes got down well to grasp Lowe's effort before Tezgel went close in the 19th minute, when he latched onto Lowe's pass, but rifled over the top of the Chilean youth international's goal.

Lima's first long range effort was claimed by Simkin midway through the opening period, but the Brazilian made no mistake in the 35th minute when he unleashed a strike that arrowed into the top right-hand corner.

Nikola Jojic tried his luck from 25 yards in reply but fired off-target for the hosts, before Reyes thwarted Sol Sidibe.

Aboh smashed a right-footed effort into the side netting from Finley Welch's set in the closing stages of the opening period.

The Canaries' lead lasted three minutes into the second half, when Lowe calmly beat Reyes from the penalty spot.

The impressive Potters' forward almost doubled his tally when he clipped the outside of a post in the 51st minute, with Reyes sprawling.

But Stoke were ahead two minutes later when Griffiths was alert to make a perfectly-timed run into the box to finish Tezgel's clever chip.

Jojic went close with a free kick in the 58th minute, either side of Simkin stops from Duffy and Brooke.

Norwich introduced wide player Elliot Myles, who only turns 17 later this month, for Lima ahead of the final quarter.

Tom Sparrow came across to block Aboh's strike in the 73rd minute but the prolific forward drew Norwich level five minutes later with his 10th of the season, when he latched onto Daniel Ogwuru's ball to lash an angled shot into the bottom corner. 

But Stoke hit back in the final minutes with a double salvo, substitute Reddin finishing off a flowing move with a composed finish past Reyes before the excellent Tezgel completed the comeback.

Stoke City U21s: Simkin, Sparrow, Curl, Kershaw (Anderson, 84), McCarron, Sidibe, Dixon, Jojic (Reddin, 70), Tezgel, Griffiths (Jeffers, 80), Lowe. Subs (not used): Houston, McGuinness. 

Bookings: Dixon, McCarron, Sparrow, Sidibe

Goals: Lowe (47), Griffiths (54), Reddin (86), Tezgel (90+5)

Norwich City U21s: Reyes, Wilson, Warner, Reneke, Montoia, Brooke, Manning (Ogwuru, 69), Lima (Myles, 69), Welch, Aboh, Duffy (Forsyth, 82). Subs (not used). McIntosh, Djedje.

Goals: Lima (35), Aboh (78)

Referee: Richard Aspinall

Time added on: 1 minute / 6 minutes