What happened...
Manchester City are runners-up in the FA Youth Cup for the third consecutive season after a 6-2 aggregate final defeat to Chelsea.
Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah, Ike Ugbo, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Dujon Sterling and Cole Dasilva all found the net for the hosts with Lukas Nmecha scoring City’s only reply following last week’s 1-1 draw.
In a start similar to that first leg, Aro Muric was City’s star man. The Swiss youth international made two full length diving saves before Chalobah’s well placed header proved just out of his reach.
The hosts doubled their advantage midway through the first half as Ugbo acrobatically turned home a floated right-wing cross.
City’s composure on the ball improved throughout the first period but they struggled to force their way through a compact Chelsea defence until Nmecha’s curling effort on the stroke of the whistle brought some confidence for the second period.
Lee Carsley introduced Luke Bolton at half-time and within seven minutes of the restart the greater midfield space allowed Matt Smith time to pick out Nmecha who steered his effort past Jamie Cumming in the Chelsea goal.
It looked to be the shot in the arm City needed but a fierce strike from Hudson-Odoi less than ten minutes later brought the Blues back to where they had started the half.
City continued to probe with Bolton finding space behind Chelsea’s defence but it wasn’t to be and Sterling’s near post finish and Dasilva’s follow up sealed a fourth FA Youth Cup trophy in a row for the Londoners.
View highlights of the first leg below...
Key moment...
Chelsea started the stronger in both legs of this year’s final but the difference at Stamford Bridge came from Trevoh Chalobah’s head. The centre-back found the one area of the goal that even the inspired Aro Muric couldn’t get to and City were behind before they had really got going.
Man of the match...
Aro Muric – Lee Carsley is often full of praise for the giant goalkeeper and the 18-year-old had plenty of occasion to showcase his talents in the first half.
Agile and dominant in his box with no chance for Chelsea’s goals, Muric also tried to act as a driving force to motivate his teammates back from their early deficit.
How they lined up...
Arijanet Muric continued in goal.
Demeaco Duhaney was at right-back with Sadou Diallo and captain Ed Francis in the centre and Tyreke Wilson at left-back.
Jacob Davenport sat behind the more progressive central midfielders Matt Smith and Phil Foden.
Brahim Diaz and Jadon Sancho were the wingers on either side of central striker Lukas Nmecha.
