It was a mixed weekend for Chelsea’s academy teams, with the Under-18s securing an impressive 3-1 victory over Leicester City, while the Under-21s had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Leeds United in Premier League 2.
The U18s put in a dominant performance, with I. Rabbaj netting a brace and A. Pennie sealing the win.
Meanwhile, the U21s struggled to break down a resolute Leeds side, despite controlling possession for much of the match. Here’s how both games unfolded.
Chelsea U18s Secure Hard-Fought Win Over Leicester
Chelsea’s U18 side put in an assured display to claim a 3-1 victory away to Leicester City on Saturday. The young Blues took control early on, with I. Rabbaj opening the scoring in the 15th minute after being set up by H. McGlinchey.
Just six minutes later, Rabbaj struck again, this time finishing off a move assisted by R. Watson to give Chelsea a commanding 2-0 lead.
Leicester attempted to mount a second-half comeback and found a breakthrough in the 72nd minute when K. Gray reduced the deficit, courtesy of an assist from L. Aideed.
However, any hopes of a Leicester revival were quickly dashed as Chelsea responded instantly—A. Pennie restored the two-goal cushion in the 73rd minute after being set up by F. Bernal.
Chelsea managed the remainder of the game well, preventing Leicester from finding another way back into the contest. The result sees the U18s continue their strong campaign in the Premier League South as they push for a top finish.
Chelsea U21s Held to a Draw by Leeds United
Unlike their younger counterparts, Chelsea’s U21s were unable to claim victory in their Premier League 2 clash, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United at Kingsmeadow.
Despite Chelsea’s dominance in possession, it was Leeds who struck first in the 30th minute, with M. McFadden finishing off a well-worked move to put the visitors ahead.
Chelsea pushed for an equalizer and applied sustained pressure throughout the second half. Their efforts finally paid off in the 75th minute when G. Antwi capitalized on a loose ball in the box and fired home to bring the hosts level. Both teams had chances to snatch a winner in the closing stages, but Chelsea couldn’t find the finishing touch to break down a stubborn Leeds defense.
The result sees Chelsea U21 remain in sixth place in the league standings, while Leeds moved up to 16th. The young Blues will now turn their focus to their upcoming fixture against Liverpool U21 on February 16, where they will look to return to winning ways.
With a victory for the U18s and a hard-fought draw for the U21s, Chelsea’s academy teams continue to show promise as they develop their next generation of talent.
