Chelsea Under-18s will take a lead into
the second leg next week after an impressive victory in Manchester. In
front of 6,421 supporters, the young Blues grabbed the lead after seven
minutes when Tammy Abraham fired in an unstoppable strike.
Manchester City were level within two minutes through Isaac Buckley-Ricketts but Abraham then finished acrobatically from close range to put his side back into the lead in the 20th minute. The visitors defended well to hold off a resurgence from City in the second half before adding a third goal late on through Dominic Solanke.
The back five were unchanged as Bradley Collins continued in goal protected by a defence of Fikayo Tomori, Ola Aina, Jake Clarke-Salter and Jay Dasilva.
It was Chelsea, the Cup holders, who struck first when Abraham blasted in his 35th goal of the season. The forward received Colkett’s clever pass forward on the right, took the ball on his chest and thumped an arrowing drive into the top far corner, leaving goalkeeper Kjetil Haug with no chance.
Manchester City were level within two minutes through Isaac Buckley-Ricketts but Abraham then finished acrobatically from close range to put his side back into the lead in the 20th minute. The visitors defended well to hold off a resurgence from City in the second half before adding a third goal late on through Dominic Solanke.
Team news
Under-18s manager Joe Edwards made just one change from the semi-final second-leg victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge last month as Charly Musonda replaced Jeremie Boga in the number 10 role. Captain Charlie Colkett and Ruben Sammut comprised the remainder of the midfield trio, with Solanke leading the line up front supported by Izzy Brown and Abraham.The back five were unchanged as Bradley Collins continued in goal protected by a defence of Fikayo Tomori, Ola Aina, Jake Clarke-Salter and Jay Dasilva.
First half
The players were greeted with fireworks as they walked out on to the field at City’s Academy Stadium and it was a suitably explosive opening to the final as both sides netted inside the first 10 minutes.It was Chelsea, the Cup holders, who struck first when Abraham blasted in his 35th goal of the season. The forward received Colkett’s clever pass forward on the right, took the ball on his chest and thumped an arrowing drive into the top far corner, leaving goalkeeper Kjetil Haug with no chance.
City grabbed a near instant reply within two minutes as the tricky Brandon Barker slid a perfect pass forward for Buckley-Ricketts. The striker’s caressed low finish nestled into the back of the net inside the far post.
Collins saved brilliantly as Clarke-Salter almost turned Aaron Nename’s low cross past his own goalkeeper, before Brown fired over the bar from 20 yards as the chances continued to come at both ends. A third goal in the game did arrive after 20 minutes and it was Chelsea celebrating once again as a corner from the right paid dividends.
Brown’s header from Colkett’s floated delivery was diverted away from danger but Clarke-Salter nodded the ball back across goal and Abraham scored from close range.
The play moved to more of a midfield battle for the remainder of the half, though Aina did threaten with a rising left-footed effort and Collins gathered comfortably from Manuel Garcia and Barker in the late exchanges of the half.
Second half
The second period was a more even affair as Musonda fired a left-footed shot just wide and then Bersant Celina tested Collins following a neat one-two on the edge of the box. Brown then worked Haug in the City goal with a low drive after a short corner had been worked to fashion a sight at goal, though the keeper gathered routinely.Clarke-Salter recovered brilliantly to thwart Garcia midway through the second period before substitute Kasey Palmer did well to beat Tosin Adarabioyo only to guide his effort narrowly off-target.
The hosts came closest to levelling with a series of chances in the final 20 minutes of the game. Garcia struck a low effort inches wide following a clever cutback from Barker down the left and then Aaron Nemane made his own chance after beating Clarke-Salter but could only fire wide of the near post.
Kean Bryan was then handed a great chance as he stole possession from Colkett high up the pitch and advanced towards goal, but his curling shot flew wide of Collins’s far post. The hosts were punished for their profligacy as Chelsea doubled their advantage in the tie in the final minutes.
Solanke received a well-weighted pass from Musonda down the right channel and slotted the ball beyond Haug. The goal took his tally to 35 for the season and means he has now scored in every round of this Youth Cup run, handing the Blues a two-goal advantage in the final at the midway point of the tie. There is no ‘away goals’ rule in the FA Youth Cup.
The second leg of the final takes place next Monday 27 April at Stamford Bridge. Tickets are currently available to purchase online (maximum of 10 per person), priced at £5 for adults and £3 for seniors/juniors
Chelsea Bradley Collins; Ola Aina, Fikayo Tomori, Jake Clarke-Salter, Jay Dasilva; Ruben Sammut, Charly Musonda (Kyle Scott 90), Charlie Colkett (c); Tammy Abraham (Kasey Palmer 67), Dominic Solanke, Izzy Brown (Jeremie Boga 90+2)
Unused subs Jared Thompson, Josh Grant
Scorers Abraham 7, 20; Solanke 87
Manchester City Kjetil Haug, Pablo Maffeo, Cameron Humphreys-Grant, Tosin Adarabioyo (c), Angelino, Kean Bryan, Aaron Nemane, Manuel Garcia (Javairo Dilrosun 86), Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, Bersant Celina, Brandon Barker
Unused subs Sam Tattum, Charlie Albinson, Sadoo Diallo, Paolo Fernandes
Scorer Buckley-Ricketts 9
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