Chelsea rose two places in the Under-21
Premier League with a deserved victory in Aldershot. The Blues opened
the scoring after 18 minutes as Jordan Houghton’s header flew beyond the
goalkeeper and they maintained the lead until half-time.
Chances were fashioned at both ends in the second half but substitute Tammy Abraham’s introduction proved significant as he struck twice late on to seal the win.
Conroy and Christensen formed the central defensive partnership with Blackman in goal and Fankaty Dabo and Ola Aina at left-back and right-back respectively. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and captain Jordan Houghton comprised the midfield trio with Boga starting in the number 10 role. Izzy Brown (pictured below) led the line up front supported from out wide by Kiwomya and Reece Mitchell.
Chances were fashioned at both ends in the second half but substitute Tammy Abraham’s introduction proved significant as he struck twice late on to seal the win.
Team news
Adi Viveash made five changes from the side that started the Under-21s’ last outing against Tottenham three weeks previously, with Jamal Blackman, Dion Conroy, Andreas Christensen, Alex Kiwomya and Jeremie Boga returning.Conroy and Christensen formed the central defensive partnership with Blackman in goal and Fankaty Dabo and Ola Aina at left-back and right-back respectively. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and captain Jordan Houghton comprised the midfield trio with Boga starting in the number 10 role. Izzy Brown (pictured below) led the line up front supported from out wide by Kiwomya and Reece Mitchell.
First half
There was plenty of possession and probing from the young Blues in
the opening 15 minutes but little in the way of threat to Everton keeper
Russell Griffiths. That was until Kiwomya and Brown had a
two-versus-two situation on the break, though with one pass too many the
chance was snuffed out.The hosts were not so wasteful moments later as they grabbed an 18th-minute lead courtesy of their captain. Boga’s corner from the left was delivered deep and hooked back into a danger area by Christensen, where midfielder Houghton provided the headed finish to put his side ahead.
Kiwomya came close to doubling the home
side’s advantage midway through the half as he met Brown’s cross with a
brilliant improvised flick, though Griffiths did enough to palm the ball
away to safety.
The Toffees grew stronger and were able to work themselves into some decent positions in the final third, though a lack of a final ball was limiting their threat to Chelsea’s lead. David Henen demonstrated the point from the left as he beat Aina on the outside but delivered a cross that was claimed comfortably by the Blues keeper.
Late in the half, Aina lashed a shot over the bar before Dyson went as close as Everton had come all evening, heading Henen’s delivery narrowly wide.
Loftus-Cheek initiated a quick Blues break as he fed Brown and the striker in turn supplied Boga in the box, however the Frenchman could not control his finish and the effort flew agonisingly over the bar.
A quiet game burst into life with a flurry of chances in the final half hour as Henen tested Blackman and then substitute Harry Charsley went close. He latched on to Liam Walsh’s forward pass but blazed over the crossbar.
Blues sub Tammy Abraham was denied from close range as the young Toffees failed to clear a dangerous corner, and then Loftus-Cheek shot wide at the end of a powerful run from midfield that saw the 19-year-old leave three defenders in his wake.
The hosts did score a second goal with six minutes remaining and it was inspired by the substitutes. Boga advanced towards goal centrally and passed to the left for Palmer, who drove beyond his defender and drilled a low cross into the six-yard box. As so often this campaign, Abraham was on hand to turn the ball beyond Griffiths.
The in-form forward wasn’t finished there either as he pounced in stoppage time, beating the keeper to a clever little chip forward by Boga and slotting inside the post, netting his 38th goal of the season and securing the Chelsea victory.
The Toffees grew stronger and were able to work themselves into some decent positions in the final third, though a lack of a final ball was limiting their threat to Chelsea’s lead. David Henen demonstrated the point from the left as he beat Aina on the outside but delivered a cross that was claimed comfortably by the Blues keeper.
Late in the half, Aina lashed a shot over the bar before Dyson went as close as Everton had come all evening, heading Henen’s delivery narrowly wide.
Second half
The second period started with more intensity and Viveash’s side could have secured a two-goal advantage inside the opening 10 minutes. Kiwomya threatened dangerously down the right wing but his centre was pushed away by Griffiths, before Boga was handed a great chance to ripple the back of the net.Loftus-Cheek initiated a quick Blues break as he fed Brown and the striker in turn supplied Boga in the box, however the Frenchman could not control his finish and the effort flew agonisingly over the bar.
A quiet game burst into life with a flurry of chances in the final half hour as Henen tested Blackman and then substitute Harry Charsley went close. He latched on to Liam Walsh’s forward pass but blazed over the crossbar.
Blues sub Tammy Abraham was denied from close range as the young Toffees failed to clear a dangerous corner, and then Loftus-Cheek shot wide at the end of a powerful run from midfield that saw the 19-year-old leave three defenders in his wake.
The hosts did score a second goal with six minutes remaining and it was inspired by the substitutes. Boga advanced towards goal centrally and passed to the left for Palmer, who drove beyond his defender and drilled a low cross into the six-yard box. As so often this campaign, Abraham was on hand to turn the ball beyond Griffiths.
The in-form forward wasn’t finished there either as he pounced in stoppage time, beating the keeper to a clever little chip forward by Boga and slotting inside the post, netting his 38th goal of the season and securing the Chelsea victory.
Reaction
Assistant manager Andy Myers reflected afterwards on a strong
performance from the team and indicated it is evidence the players are
still determined to challenge at the top end of the league. Speaking to
the official Chelsea website, he said: ‘We’ve haven’t played for a while
and have slipped down the league table in that time so obviously it’s
important we win our games in hand.‘We knew we needed to win tonight because we’re still trying to challenge at the top of this league and it was a very good performance. We had a couple of players who were involved in the FA Youth Cup final last week and quite a few who haven’t played for a while so it was a bit of a mix. A friendly game we played last week really helped put us in a good position for tonight though.
‘We’re pleased to have Ruben and Andreas involved away from their first team duties and they both did very well.
‘It’s going to be a difficult few weeks ahead with lots of games but the boys are prepared for that. They know that playing games in a short period of time is all part of being an elite footballer at the top level so they have the chance to show they can handle that now.’
Next up for the Academy is the second leg of the FA Youth Cup final against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. Joe Edwards’s side lead 3-1 after the first leg and are looking to retain their crown for the first time since the 1960s. Tickets are currently available (maximum of 10 per person), priced at £5 for adults and £3 for seniors/juniors.
Chelsea Jamal Blackman; Ola Aina (Jay Dasilva 90), Dion Conroy, Andreas Christensen, Fankaty Dabo; Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jordan Houghton (c); Alex Kiwomya (Abraham 63), Jeremie Boga, Reece Mitchell (Kasey Palmer 73); Izzy Brown.
Unused subs Mitchell Beeney, Kyle Scott
Scorers Houghton 18; Abraham 84, 90+3
Booked Brown
Everton Russell Griffiths, Gethin Jones, Antonee Robinson, Liam Walsh, Tyias Browning, Brendan Galloway, Jonjoe Kenny, Tom Davies (Sam Byrne 68), Calum Dyson (Kieran Dowell 85), David Henen, Callum Connolly (Harry Charsley 56)
Unused subs Ryan Ledson, Connor Hunt
Booked Davies
Attendance 488
By Sam Poplett
Pictures courtesy of Mark Sandom, Dan Davies and Ian Morsman
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