The FA Youth Cup

From the school playground to Semi-Final goalscorer

Friday 06 Mar 2015
Sterling celebrates after netting against Chelsea
Scoring in a Cup Semi-Final hours after leaving the school playground, Thursday 5 March is not a day Tottenham Hotspur youngster Kazaiah Sterling is likely to forget in a hurry.

Just a month on from netting on his England U17 debut, the 16-year-old came off the bench to score the second goal for Spurs in their 2-0 FA Youth Cup Semi-Final first leg win over Chelsea last night.

Tottenham 2-0 Chelsea

FA Youth Cup
Semi-final first leg
White Hart Lane
Thursday 5 March 2015

And the forward received an A* grade from his coach Kieran McKenna.

"Kazaiah has been at school today, for him to come in after that and score that second goal, I’m delighted for him," he told ITV after the full-time whistle.

"He’s back at school in the morning too, so he will be back down to earth, but he has done really well."

Another Young Lion, England U18s midfielder Josh Onomah, opened the scoring for Spurs in the first half, with McKenna adding: "Josh carried the ball really well, he was strong and forceful and he got his shot away really well. 

"At that stage in the game, I always thought we were defending really well and we would be dangerous on the counter attack."

The two sides meet again at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 18 March, and despite their first-leg advantage, McKenna knows his side still have a lot of work to do if they are to face Manchester City or Leicester in The Final.

Spurs U18s boss Kieran McKenna

Spurs U18s boss Kieran McKenna

"It was a game between two very good sides. Tactically it was a completely different challenge to what we have been used to, and physically too," he said.

"They showed tremendous character and produced some really good individual performances.

"To score two goals sets us up very well for the second leg, and the boys should enjoy that result.

"It sets us up well for the return game, but Joe has some excellent players there, so we are under no illusions about the tough test that awaits us.”


By Gary Stonehouse Staff Writer