The visitors took an early lead after Frankie Runham converted Chelsea’s first attack on 18 minutes.
City, however, remained unfazed by the disadvantage heading into the second half and retaliated quickly after the restart through a Matty Warhurst equaliser.
Chelsea regained their lead after a curling effort from Ryan McAidoo rippled the back of the City net before the visitors were awarded a penalty after a mistimed tackle by Oliver Whatmuff.
Ollie Harrison converted the penalty for Chelsea on 83 minutes.
Reigan Heskey clawed a goal back for City in the 89th minute to reduce the deficit but Ben Wilkinson‘s youngsters were unable to find a third which would have taken the game into extra-time.
WHAT HAPPENED
It was another chilly evening at the City Football Academy as the regular pitch eight played host to our semi-final encounter.
City were looking to go two for two after the Under-18s secured our place in the final of the Under-18 Premier League Cup final following a 3-1 win over Leicester City.
And the Under-17s looked motivated by their team-mates’ success and started the game on the front foot by dictating play for the opening 15 minutes.
But three minutes later, to City’s surprise, it was Chelsea who took the lead. Frankie Runham converted from close range with the visitors’ first chance of the match.
City looked to rectify and score an equaliser quickly. Divine Mukasa‘s corner was met by Matty Warhurst‘s head but his guided effort fell into the hands of Kai Crampton.
A flurry of chances for City in the remaining 10 minutes of the half saw Wilkinson’s side probe and prod the Chelsea box with Christian Dunbar-McDonald a bright spark on the left and Luca Fletcher on the right.
And City were unfortunate not to be level before half-time with Chelsea defending their 18-yard box well.
City began the second half stronger than the first and our electric pace and determination caught Chelsea off guard in the 50th minute after a driving run into the box by Dan Batty left them scrambling.
The midfielder’s shot looked set to drift wide of the left post but Warhurst anticipated the flight of the ball and tapped in to draw City level.
City were able to withstand a brief spell of possession by Chelsea which included two goalline clearances from Matty Henderson-Hall to deny the hosts the chance to regain the lead.
It was Warhurst again with another great chance for City. His stinging strike on 68 minutes was denied by the outstretched hand of Crampton.
Moments later Fletcher teed up Batty inside the box but an onrushing Chelsea defender blocked the shot.
Then it was Chelsea’s turn to attack. A solo run by Ryan McAidoo split City’s defence and left him with space to unleash a left-footed shot which curled into the far left corner.
The task left in front of City was heightened when Chelsea were awarded a penalty on 83 minutes after a late Oliver Whatmuff challenge.
Captain Ollie Harrison converted from the spot to make it 3-1.
Substitute Reigan Heskey added a spark of energy in City’s attacking line and the change paid off for Wilkinson after the youngster placed a shot into the bottom right corner in the 89th minute.
But City were left with too little time to score a third and take it to extra-time which means our Under-17 Premier League Cup journey comes to an end.
HOW WE LINED UP
Oliver Whatmuff was deployed in between the sticks with a back four of Matty Henderson-Hall, captain Kian Noble, Stephen Mfuni and Kaden Braithwaite.
City’s engine room was led by Femi Fapetu with Dan Batty and Divine Mukasa either side of the number six.
City’s forward line was led by Matty Warhurst with Christian Dunbar-McDonald on the left flank and Luca Fletcher on the right.
CITY XI | Whatmuff, Henderson-Hall, Noble ©, Mfuni, Braithwaite, Fapetu, Fletcher, Batty, Warhurst, Mukasa, Dunbar-McDonald
SUBS | Nfonkeu, Hudson, Drake, R. Heskey, Headley
CHELSEA XI | Crampton, Wheeler-Henry, Subuloye, Olagunju, Antwi, Emenaro, Runham, Harrison ©, McAidoo, Cardoso, Ngumoha
SUBS | Barbour, Austin, Gordon, McGlinchley, Idrissi
