City’s campaign in the Under-17 Premier League Cup came to an end when they lost 3-2 against Chelsea.
On the eighteenth minute, Frankie Runham finished Chelsea’s first effort, giving the visitors an early lead.
But even with the handicap going into the second half, City was undaunted and responded fast with an equaliser from Matty Warhurst.
Ryan McAidoo’s curling effort rippled the back of the City net, giving Chelsea the lead again, and Oliver Whatmuff’s ill-advised tackle earned the visitors a penalty.
On minute 83, Ollie Harrison scored the penalty for Chelsea.
In the 89th minute, Reigan Heskey pulled one back for City to cut the lead, but Ben Wilkinson’s team was unable to score a third goal to send the match into extra time.
WHAT HAPPENED
Our semi-final match took place on the normal pitch eight at the City Football Academy on another cold evening.
After the Under-18s defeated Leicester City 3-1 to guarantee our spot in the Under-18 Premier League Cup final, City was hoping to make it two for two.
The Under-17s also began the game on the front foot, controlling play for the first fifteen minutes, perhaps inspired by the success of their teammates.
However, to City’s dismay, Chelsea took the lead three minutes later. The opening opportunity of the game for the visitors was converted from close range by Frankie Runham.
City tried to swiftly make amends and get an equaliser. Matty Warhurst’s head touched Divine Mukasa’s corner, but Kai Crampton was able to stop his directed effort.
With Luca Fletcher on the right and Christian Dunbar-McDonald, a bright spark on the left, Wilkinson’s team probed and prodded the Chelsea box in a flurry of chances for City in the final ten minutes of the half.
And it was unfortunate for City that Chelsea’s strong 18-yard box defence prevented them from drawing even before halftime.
After Dan Batty’s driving drive into the area left Chelsea reeling, City started the second half better than the first. Our explosive pace and tenacity caught Chelsea off surprise in the 50th minute.
The midfielder appeared to have missed the left post with his attempt, but Warhurst saw the ball’s trajectory and touched in to tie the score for City.
Chelsea had a brief period of possession, but Matty Henderson-Hall made two goalline clearances to keep the visitors from taking the lead, and City held firm.
Once more, Warhurst presented City with a fantastic opportunity. With 68 minutes played, Crampton’s outstretched palm stopped his stinging strike.
Shortly after, Fletcher set up Batty inside the area, but the effort was stopped by a Chelsea player who was charging in.
Chelsea was next to launch an attack. Ryan McAidoo’s single run opened up space for him to shoot with his left foot, curving the ball into the far left corner of the net, splitting City’s defence.
After a late challenge by Oliver Whatmuff, Chelsea was awarded a penalty on minute 83, which increased the task ahead of City.
It was 3-1 when Captain Ollie Harrison scored from the penalty spot.
Replace The addition of Reigan Heskey to City’s attacking lineup gave Wilkinson more vigour, and in the 89th minute, the youthful player’s strike found its way into the bottom right corner.
However, City ran out of time to add a third goal and force extra time, which means our Under-17 Premier League Cup campaign is over.
THE LINE UP
With a back four consisting of Matty Henderson-Hall, captain Kian Noble, Stephen Mfuni, and Kaden Braithwaite, Oliver Whatmuff was used in between the sticks.
Femi Fapetu oversaw the engine room of the city, with Divine Mukasa and Dan Batty on either side of the six.
Matty Warhurst headed City’s attacking line, with Luca Fletcher on the right and Christian Dunbar-McDonald on the left.
CITY Line Up: Whatmuff, Henderson-Hall, Noble ·, Mfuni, Braithwaite, Fapetu, Fletcher, Batty, Warhurst, Mukasa, and Dunbar-McDonald are all part of CITY 8.
SUBS | Headley, R. Heskey, Nfonkeu, Hudson, Drake
CHELSEA Line Up: Runham, Harrison ©, McAidoo, Cardoso, Ngumoha, Olagunju, Antwi, Emenaro, Crampton, Wheeler-Henry, Subuloye, and Olagunju
SUBS: McGlinchley, Austin, Gordon, Barbour, and Idrissi