City fall to narrow defeat to Chelsea at the Joie Stadium

EDS & Academy

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In an encounter where tremendous quality was on show, Jacob Wright’s first goal of the season was cancelled out by Deivid Washington first-half strike.

And Josh Brooking broke Brian Barry-Murphy‘s side’s hearts with a strike on the cusp of full-time.

City went close to levelling twice in added time but both chances went agonisingly wide.

WHAT HAPPENED

On a slightly brisk night at the Joie Stadium, Chelsea’s leading marksman Ronnie Stutter spurned a great early chance when he collected an under-hit pass out of defence but saw his drilled effort expertly blocked by True Grant.

The England Youth international, who had scored five goals ahead of the fixture and was included in the Londoners’ senior squad for a Premier League trip to Bournemouth, fired an early warning shot.

Undeterred, though, City immediately went on the offensive and broke the deadlock when the ball broke to Wright on the edge of the area before he curled home a venomous effort.

Across the two league matches where the sides locked horns last term, eight goals were produced across 180 minutes.

So, perhaps unsurprisingly, those in attendance didn’t have to wait long for the match’s second of the evening when the visitors equalised through Washington who fired home Josh Brooking’s cut-back.

In what proved to be an entertaining opening 45 minutes, the hosts immediately went on the offensive and came close to restoring our lead when Justin Oboavwoduo danced into the area before seeing his whipped effort bounce back off the far post.

The second half picked up from where the first left off with en-to-end action ensuing.

Following a dangerous Chelsea corner City dealt well with, we sparked an attack of our own when Oboavwoduo’s fizzed ball across the face of goal was met by Emilio Lawrence whose effort flew just wide.

Both sides looked dangerous when breaking into the final third and the visitors should’ve taken the lead when a neat move allowed the ball to be whipped into the path of Stutter who drove into the area.

And the striker looked certain to score but skewed his effort wide from close range. 

For the final 20 minutes in Manchester the match was finely poised with both teams cancelling the other out and neither keeper particularly tested.

But with the clock ticking down, Chelsea ensured they left with three points when the ball fell to Brooking inside the box and the defender lashed past a helpless Grant.

Lakyle Samuel and Will Dickson both went close to finding an equaliser in added time but Chelsea hung on to claim a 2-1 victory.

HOW WE LINED UP

City: True Grant, Lakyle Samuel, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Max Alleyne, Tom Galvez, Jacob Wright (Mahamadou Susoho 76’), Justin Oboavwoduo, Michael Okeke (Josh Adam 60’), Will Dickson, Michah Hamilton (C), Emilio Lawrence (Kane Taylor 60’).

Unused substitutes:  George Murray-Jones, Farid Alfa-Ruprecht.

Chelsea: Eddie Beach, Josh Brooking, Alfie Glichrist (C), Dylan Williams, Somto Boniface, Kiano Dyer, Brodi Hughes, Alex Matos, Ronnie Stutter (Jimmy-Jay Morgan 74’), Leo Castledine (81’), Deivid Washington.

Unused substitutes: Zain Silcott-Duberry, Max Merrick, Billy Gee.

WHAT IT MEANS

Defeat means City are currently 16^th in the Premier League 2 table with four points.

WHAT’S NEXT

Our EDS’ next assignment is a trip to Barnsley in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday 26 September.

Kick-off at Oakwell is scheduled for 19:30 and, as ever, there will be comprehensive coverage on mancity.com and our official app.

Next Fixture

All fixtures

Tue 26 Sep

EFL Trophy

Barnsley

19:30

BST

Man City