Conor Clifford goal sees Chelsea into Youth Cup last eight.
Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth
The FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON
Fifth Round Proper
7pm, Thursday 28 January 2010
Stamford Bridge, Chelsea FC
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Chelsea captain Conor Clifford scored the vital goal as the west London club managed to book their place in the last eight of the competition.
A large crowd turned up at Stamford Bridge and were rewarded when the home side came away with an impressive victory.
Chelsea could have opened the scoring inside the opening five minutes when Jacopo Sala saw his close-range header cannon back off the post.
But the home side managed to score the only goal of the game just five minutes later when Clifford played a neat interchange with Marko Mitrovic before firing a powerful shot past the Portsmouth 'keeper.
Chelsea had chances to extend the lead in the second half but Clifford wasted a good opportunity and Mitrovic saw his 25-yard shot hit the post.
Chelsea youth team manager Dermot Drummy said: “Portsmouth gave us a real tough test. They were organised and really competed. They played direct football as well and we had to be on our toes and move the ball quickly.
”We played some great football, hit the wood work a couple of times, their keeper has pulled off some great saves and we scored a fantastic goal through Conor Clifford.
“But we also learned tonight that to play you have to compete and the mentality was fantastic.”
