U21s Report: Chelsea 1-1 Leeds United | OneFootball

Premier League 2

Chelsea U21 1 (Antwi 75’)

Leeds United U21 1 (McFadden 30’)

Chelsea: Bergstrom (GK), Antwi, Murray-Campbell, Emenalo, Hughes (C), McMahon, Ampah, Rak-Sakyi, McNeilly (Mhueka 65’), Dyer, Stutter (Kavuma-McQueen 72’). Subs not used: Curd (GK), Wilson, Diakite.

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Richards (McFadden 24’), Ferguson, Monteiro, Lopata-White (McDonald 73’), Moore, Douglas, Cresswell (C), Gray, Chadwick, Coleman. Subs not used: Ombang (GK), Bird, Nfonkeu.

Venue: Kingsmeadow

Referee: Harry Wager

Booked: McNeilly, Antwi (Chelsea) Lopata-White, Mahady, Coleman, Chadwick (Leeds)

Leeds United Under-21s were held to a draw by a strong Chelsea Under-21s side, earning a thoroughly deserved point in the Premier League 2.

On a sodden night in the capital, the Whites, who on the evening were playing in yellow, started brightly. Fine one-touch football down the left flank saw Scott Gardner’s side drive at the hosts, with defender Kris Moore testing Lucas Bergstrom from distance with a well-struck effort.

Rory Mahady was next to be called into action as Chelsea raced over halfway on the break, superbly clutching Kiano Dyer’s rifled strike that arrowed towards the corner, as both teams threatened in the fixture’s infancy.

The Blues broke once more in search of the opener; an exquisite touch from Genesis Antwi saw the full-back cross for Ronnie Stutter who had an effort charged down well, before Mahady made another crucial intervention to deny Donnell McNeilly from close range.

Sam Rak-Sakyi then went close for the hosts, latching onto Stutter’s low delivery but, under pressure from a number of yellow shirts, was unable to guide a first-time shot on target.

After soaking up a spell of attacking intent from the London outfit, the Whites took the lead in emphatic fashion, courtesy of a thunderous volley from Max McFadden.

A dangerous Rhys Chadwick delivery from the left caused the home side all sorts of problems and they could only head it into the path of the early substitute on the edge of the area. Bergstrom got a hand on the strike but could only watch on as the ball nestled into bottom corner!

Chelsea came close as they looked to level proceedings before the break. Mahady had to be alert to race out and smother the danger before Harrison McMahon could retrieve a long pass in behind, before the Scot then saved Dyer’s audacious effort from range comfortably.

As the board went up to signal five minutes of additional time at the end of the first-half, Filipe Coelho’s team came within inches of restoring parity when Rak-Sakyi’s rasping shot cannoned off the crossbar and over the upright.

HALF TIME: Chelsea U21 0-1 Leeds United U21

Both sides remained unchanged as the players emerged for the second half. There was no let up by the weather, either, as the rain teemed down in Wimbledon.

Immediately on the front foot, United had an opportunity after McFadden had won a corner down the left. Chadwick’s swirling delivery was met by Reuben Lopata-White at the back post, though the defender’s header was easy pickings for Bergstrom between the posts for the Blues.

Approaching the hour mark, Chelsea began to step up the pressure as they searched for an equaliser. Moore was well placed for United to initially hack Rak-Sakyi’s teasing cross away with McNeilly lurking in the middle, before Ato Ampah dragged a low effort narrowly wide of the upright from a narrow angle.

Mahady then made a sensational double save to preserve the Whites’ lead, initially getting down brilliantly to parry from Ampah and then quickly getting to his feet to block a Stutter effort yards from goal, when the Chelsea forward seemed destined to score!

Keen to wrestle back the momentum, fine hold up play from Harry Gray allowed the striker to play a pass that Connor Douglas set off in pursuit of, but impressive defending from Landon Emenalo averted the danger for the hosts.

With 15 minutes of time remaining, Chelsea did draw level when Antwi was well placed at the back post to bundle Ryan Kavuma-McQueen’s cross home.

Chances then came at both ends as the game became even more stretched. McFadden found space at the back post but, stumbling, lashed over, before Mahady made another fine save to deny Shumaira Mheuka.

It wasn’t just in goal that Mahady was involved, however, as the keeper then expertly found the run of Gray in space on the left. The striker marauded into the area and looked to curl one into the far corner, though his powerful strike sailed narrowly over the bar.

Leeds would have retaken their lead late on if not for a brilliant sprawling save from Bergstrom. Douglas had charged through on goal, holding off a blue shirt, though as he looked to round the keeper, an outstretched boot dispossessed the forward.

It was Mahady’s turn to make a crucial intervention in the dying stages, diving at full-stretch to clutch Mheuka’s close-range header, ensuring Gardner’s side came away hard-fought, and much-deserved, point on the road.

FULL TIME: Chelsea U21 1-1 Leeds United U21