City overcome stubborn Chelsea side to advance to FA Youth Cup quarter-finals

After an intense opening 45 minutes, in which both teams played mesmerising football, shots on target were few and far between.

It meant the second half was all to play for. And it was City who had the ideal response after the break.

Floyd Samba’s strike gave Oliver Reiss’ side the lead less than 60 seconds into the second half.

City then hit the ascendancy. Dante Headley’s deflected left-footed effort from range soared towards the top-left corner to double our lead just after the hour mark.

Xavier Parker bagged his second goal in two FA Youth Cup games to make it three.

City showed no sign of slowing down as Ryan McAidoo added his name to the scoresheet after an error at the back for Chelsea saw him convert in an empty net.

Ryan Kavuma-McQueen scored a late consolation for Chelsea as City confirmed a gigantic win to see us advance to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals.

WHAT HAPPENED

You only have to go back to 2020 when City last faced Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup.

A decisive goal from Cole Palmer saw our young boys in blue lift the prestigious trophy after a 3-2 triumph in the final at St. George’s Park during COVID-19.

And this time around, in front of fans, City looked determined to put on another positive performance.

The intensity and speed in which both teams played was mesmerising, but shots on target were still far and few in the opening half.

X. Parker registered City’s first shot on target on 35 minutes as City continued to build up momentum against a physical Chelsea outfit.

Just before the break, Leke Drake made a fantastic sliding block to deny Mathis Eboue to keep the score level at half-time.

Just seconds after the second half began, F. Samba fired City ahead.

His left-footed effort from the edge of the area slipped under Chelsea goalkeeper Freddy Bernal in what was the perfect start to an extremely important 45 minutes ahead for Reiss’ side.

City ‘keeper Max Hudson made a key save to deny the lethal Shumaira Mheuka on 56 minutes as the game continued to yo-yo.

Beautiful link-up play between Headley and F. Samba saw the former find space on the edge of the box to go for goal.

And on 63 minutes, his left-footed effort flew into the back of the Chelsea net.

And it took City just two minutes to make it three. X. Parker tapped home from close range after Chelsea failed to clear their lines.  

City were fortunate when McAidoo scored our fourth of the evening.

A mix-up at the back for the hosts saw the former Chelsea Academy player walk the ball over the line to put the game out of reach for our opponents.

City fought hard to maintain a clean sheet but Kavuma-McQueen’s late strike in added time denied our boys in blue the cherry on top to what was a statement win for our Under-18s.

HOW WE LINED UP

CHELSEA XI | Bernal, Richards, Waite, Subuloye, Emenalo, Holland (Ezenwata 70’), Kavuma-McQueen, Walsh, Mheuka, Nicoll-Jazuli (Watson 64’), Eboue (Barbour 64’).

SUBS | Ebho, Sands, Diakite, Gordon.  

CITY XI | Hudson, Headley, Drake, Braithwaite, Barrett (Obin 84’), Miles (Tevenan 89’), McAidoo, F. Samba, X. Parker (Lamb 82’), T. Samba, R. Heskey.

SUBS | Vickery, Gorman, Oliver, Dunbar-McDonald, Lamb.

AS A RESULT

City are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup.

The draw for the next stage will take place in due course.

Stay across mancity.com and the Official Man City App for updates on our next fixture.

UP NEXT

Another big game awaits for our young boys in blue as our attention now turns to the Under-18 Premier League North.

City welcome Manchester United to the City Football Academy on Saturday 14 February, with kick-off slated for 11:00 (UK).

Fans with a CITY+ subscription will be able to watch our top-of-the-table clash live on mancity.com and the Official Man City App.