Chelsea crowned FA Youth Cup winners after late drama at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea |
2-1 |
Aston Villa |
Mitrovic 65, Clifford 86 |
(3-2 Agg) |
Poyser 33 |
The FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON
The Final - Second Leg
7.45pm, Tuesday 4 May 2010
Stamford Bridge, Chelsea FC
There was late drama at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea lifted The FA Youth Cup for the first time since 1961 although they were taken all the way by an Aston Villa team who could quite easily have found themselves comfortable winners too.
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Villa Park last Thursday, it was always going to be another tight affair and it proved to be an almost identical game with the visitors taking a first half lead only to be pegged back in the second half.
Despite the hosts enjoying the superior possession throughout, Villa always looked dangerous and at times proved particularly tough for Chelsea to break down whilst creating some clear opportunities themselves.
But it was left to Blues skipper Conor Clifford to prove the hero and his fine strike just four minutes from time was enough to crown Chelsea as 2010 winners.
As in the first leg, it was Chelsea who made the brighter start and they had efforts on goal from Clifford, Aliu Djalo, Gokhan Tore and Jacopo Sala all within the opening stages. But it was Villa who came the closest to scoring after seven minutes, when Ryan Simmonds hooked a shot at goal from just inside the area and Sam Walker had to make a fine save at full stretch to turn it around for a corner.
Chelsea then had an equally good opportunity at the other end after 13 minutes, when Tore’s free-kick from the by-line picked out Jeffrey Bruma at the far post but he could only guide it wide of the target from close range.
Whilst Villa always looked dangerous from set-pieces, Chelsea threatened more with their football and a good move in the 28th minute saw Bruma race away down the right and cross for Marko Mitrovic. He just failed to connect, but when Tore returned it into the area, Sala nodded narrowly wide of the target.
Tore then fired wastefully over the bar after a great turn and pass from Josh McEachran had provided Djalo with the opportunity to set the Turkish winger up, but his left-footer flew high and wide.
They were made to pay too, as Villa went ahead just moments later following a swift counter attack. The ball was worked by Samir Carruthers to the right and Simmonds' centre was perfect for Kofi Powser who rose above Bruma to power a firm header past Walker to put them in front.
Predictably, Chelsea made a strong retort and Djalo saw a powerful snap-shot well saved by Benji Sieghorst, before heading over Sala’s cross at the far post soon after.
The hosts emerged after the break looking as though they had the words of boss Dermot Drummy still ringing in their ears and Aziz Deen Conteh almost got them back in it with a stinging 25 yard shot that Siegrist had to parry over the bar. Rohan Ince then nodded wide from Sala’s left wing corner as the Blues looked to find a way back into it.
The pressure continued and Mitrovic saw a header cleared off the line by Tomos Roberts just short of the hour mark, after rising highest in the area to meet McEachran’s corner from the right.
They didn’t have to wait much longer though and after 65 minutes the equaliser arrived when the ball was worked out to Sala on the left by McEachran. The Italian winger played the ball into the centre and there was Mitrovic to poke it home past Siegrist from close range to bring the tie back level.
Both sides had half chances to steal victory late on with a flurry of half chances at either end, but it was Chelsea who got the glory with less than five minutes remaining. The chance came when McEachran robbed Carruthers of the ball on the left and when he squared to Clifford, the Blues captain let fly with a fierce shot from 20 yards which had Siegrist beaten all ends up.
They nearly added another in the dying minutes, when Mitrovic played a ball into the path of Tore but after beating Siegrist from close range, his shot hit the cross bar before bouncing back down, hitting the woodwork again and then landing on the roof of the goal.
It wasn't to matter though, and after a lengthy stoppage which saw Djalo stretchered off, the whistle was sounded to give Chelsea the victory in this competition which they have been chasing for a number of seasons now.
Chelsea: 1 Sam Walker, 2 Billy Clifford, 3 Rohan Ince, 4 Jeffrey Bruma, 5 Aziz Deen Conteh, 6 Conor Clifford (c), 7 Jacopo Sala, 8 Aliu Djalo (14 George Saville, 90) 9 Marko Mitrovic, 10 Joshua McEachran, 11 Gokhan Tore (12 Milan Lalkovic, 89)
Substitutes not used: 13 Aldi Haxhia, 15 Ben Sampayo, 16 Anton Rodgers.
Manager: Dermot Drummy
Aston Villa: Benjamin Siegrist, 2 Durrell Berry, 3 Ellis Deeney (c), 4 Daniel Devine, 5 Derrick Williams (15 Darious Darkin, 72), 6 Richard Blythe (14 Arsenio Halfhuid, 89), 7 Samir Carruthers, 8 Ebby Nelson-Addy, 9 Kofi Poyser, 10 Ryan Simmonds, 11 Tomos Roberts.
Substitutes not used: 12 Daniel Johnson, 13 Calum Barrett, 16 Jack Dyer.
Manager: Tony McAndrew
Referee: K Friend
Assistant Referees: J Adcock & S Bennett
Fourth Official: R Wigglesworth
Attendance: 10446
