Post-Match Report

Match report: Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal U-18s

Azeez

Chelsea U18 -

Cobham Training Ground
U18 Premier League Cup
U18 Premier League Cup
  Chelsea U18
      
              Broja (16)
               Iling  (37)
          
   crest
Chelsea U18
Broja (16) Iling (37)
2 - 1
  Arsenal U18
      
                  Oyegoke (78)
            
   crest
Arsenal U18
Oyegoke (78)

WHAT HAPPENED

We narrowly missed out on qualification to the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup after an away defeat to Chelsea.

The hosts started strongly and came close when Lewis Bate drove with the ball and let fly from the edge of the box, but saw his effort crash against the post.  

The Blues' pressure eventually paid off when Bate won possession and played Armando Broja into the box, and the forward fired low past Hubert Graczyk.

Broja should have grabbed his second shortly after when he muscled Daniel Oyegoke off the ball, drove into the box but saw his effort well saved by Graczyk from close range.

Chelsea did double their advantage in the 37th minute though, when Sam Iling pinched the ball from Alex Kirk, skipped past a challenge and powered a shot into the roof of the net.

On the stroke of half-time, the Blues would have been pulled further ahead had it not have been for a phenomenal double save by Graczyk, who denied Xavier Simons’ initial shot before reacting well to prevent his second attempt finding the back of the net.

We pulled a goal back with 10 minutes remaining of the match when Matthew Dennis won the ball, drove into the box and teed up Oyegoke, who slammed home from a tight angle. 

Despite a late onslaught, we couldn’t find the equalising goal and suffered our second defeat to Chelsea this season.

WHAT IT MEANS

We missed out on qualification to the knockout stages after finishing second in Group A with three points.  

WHAT’S NEXT

Ken Gillard’s side next face Swansea City at home in the Under-18 Premier League on Saturday, November 30 at 11am (UK time).

By Sam Cox