The FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.On 2007/08 Final 2nd Leg
Manchester City v Chelsea
Wednesday April 16, 2008, 7.45pm
City of Manchester Stadium - Att: 19,780
Manchester City:
Hartley, Trippier (Ibrahim 90), Mee (C), McGivern, Tutte, Boyata (Tsiaklis 82), Weiss, Kay, Ball, Mak, McDermott.
unused subs: Mentel (GK), Poole, Nimely-Tchuimeni.
Chelsea:
Taylor, Twumasi (C), Bruma, van Aanholt, Gordon (Nouble 73), Woods, Stoch, Mellis, Nielsen (Phillip 54), Tejera, Kakuta.
unused subs: Hadehia, Taiwo, Saville.
Goals: 0-1 (1-2 agg) McGivern og 7, 1-1 (2-2) Mee 24, 2-1 (3-2) Weiss 35, 3-1 (4-2) Ball 87
Bookings
City: Mee 61
Chelsea: Twumasi 33
Red Card
Chelsea: Mellis 90
Referee: Mr P.Walton
Pre match
City have been dealt a bad blow ahead of kick-off with the news that Danny Sturridge has been ruled out of the 2008 FA Youth Cup Final. The first leg goalscorer misses out after picking up a knee injury in the process of winning the City senior side a penalty on Saturday.
And that’s the only change between the two sides from the first leg at Stamford Bridge and of course both teams are locked at 1-1.
The match
The game was quick to get up to the pace of the first leg as on five minutes Miroslav Stoch hit a 25-yard drive that had Hartley diving to cover as it bounced wide.
That was an early signal of intent from the hosts as Stoch almost reached a reverse pass from Tejera less than 60 seconds later.
But unfortunately almost immediately Chelsea’s pressure paid off with the opening goal of the night. Jacob Mellis broke two challenges on the edge of the box before drawing a save from Hartley, unfortunately for Ryan McGivern, the ball spun up and hit him before painful landing in the net as an own goal.
City’s first repost came after 10 minutes as Donal McDermott slipped a nice ball through the middle for midfielder Andrew Tutte to latch onto. He could only release a first time shot not strong enough to test Rhys Taylor in the Chelsea goal.
On 13, Robbie Mak, the replacement for the injured Sturridge showed he was an able one as he cut in from the left to unleash a fizzing shot from distance which had David Ball sniffing for any spillage by Taylor.
In the 23rd minute a fine passage of football all round saw City denied by a great save from Taylor. It was the main threat Weiss with a lovely run, this time from the left, and as he cut in he squared to Tutte who fired a beautiful drive that Taylor did fantastically well to turn over.
And it was from that corner where City found their leveller on 24 minutes. Andrew Tutte played a one-two with McGivern and the previously denied Scouse midfielder drove down the right to put in a Gerrard-esque cross from the right that demanded to be headed home and skipper Ben Mee did just that from five-yards out. Game on!
After Vladimir Weiss switched wings to the left, he began to hurt the London side as he did in the first game. This was typified with a great run which left the Chelsea captain with no option but to haul him down 20-yards out and earn the night’s first booking on 33 minutes.
And how they were to pay the ultimate penalty as the Slovakian winger picked himself up to curl a delightful free-kick into the corner to give City the lead.
The Blues comeback had shocked Chelsea and City continued to press for their third goal of the night. Twice Robbie Mak broke away, only to be tracked down by the Chelsea defence, but another important moment came just two minutes before the break.
Having just refused a penalty claim at one end, as Stoch (by now being booed for ‘histrionics’) went down too easily, referee Walton matched it by not giving a penalty when Weiss appeared to be brought down then pulled back as he tried to regain possession.
Soon though the whistle was being blown on a fantastic first half with Weiss the undoubted star.
HALF TIME: City 2(3)-1(2) Chelsea
So no changes at the break as City looked to grab a vital goal to give themselves a two-goal advantage.
And they were being cheered on by no less than 14 of the City first team as well as Sven-Goran Eriksson and Hans Backe.
An early chance apiece came and went too, as firstly McGivern’s driven cross was well cut out inside the six-yard box. Chelsea hit back as Spanish striker Tereja flashed a right-footed shot just wide from the edge of the box on 48 minutes.
After a slight lull in the game, Ben Mee went into the book for a rash challenge on Chelsea dangerman, Gael Kakuta as we passed the hour mark.
On 70 minutes it took a vital tackle from Ben Mee to prevent Chelsea supersub, Adam Phillip, from racing clear for a chance to add to his goal record.
Chelsea applied the pressure again 14 minutes from time as Frank Nouble whipped in a glorious low ball from the right, which City did extremely well to clear and cued more tense screams from the near 20,000 crowd.
As the pressure reached boiling point, City broke away from a Chelsea corner and Vladimir Weiss showed his unending energy running almost the full length of the pitch before being brought down by Tejera for a penalty.
So three minutes from time David Ball stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot for his 30th goal of the season and vitally give City a 3-1 lead.
It was too much for the visitors and in stoppage time Jacob Mellis was sent off for a nasty challenge on Trippier as he showed no intent to go for the ball.
After a lengthy stoppage for the Trippier injury, he was carried off to a hero’s reception and shortly after the final whistle followed.
Finally after 22 years of hurt, City’s youth team have claimed the FA Youth Cup again, beating Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate.
FULL TIME: City 3(4) - 1(2) Chelsea
