City’s EDS suffer opening PL2 defeat away at Chelsea

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Manchester City F.C.

·18 August 2025

City’s EDS suffer opening PL2 defeat away at Chelsea

City’s Elite Development Squad fell to a 3-1 defeat at Chelsea on Monday evening in our first Premier League 2 game of 2025/26.

After an end-to-end opening 45 minutes, Chelsea skipper Shumaira Mheuka gave the hosts the lead on the brink of half-time with a composed headed finish.

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Mheuka then doubled Chelsea’s lead at Kingsmeadow two minutes into the second half before Lakyle Samuel scored City’s first goal of the season to slice the deficit.

But Mheuka’s third put the game back out of reach for City as Ben Wilkinson’s side fell to a Gameweek One defeat.

THE GAME IN 250 WORDS

After an opening day defeat to Liverpool last season, Ben Wilkinson and his new EDS squad were keen to start our title defence on a more positive note.

But City knew a trip to Chelsea in the first fixture of the campaign would be far from easy, with last season's third-placed hosts looking for revenge after City’s 5-0 triumph on home soil last February.

Chelsea’s Leo Cardoso had the first chance of the game on seven minutes before Justin Oboavwoduo retaliated with City’s best opportunity to take the lead on 25 minutes.

Mahamadou Sangare regained possession in Chelsea’s half before playing his team-mate through into a one-on-one with Ted Curd.

But Oboavwoduo watched his right-footed effort roll just wide of the left post. The 18-year-old had a similar chance less than 10 minutes later, this time opting to go to the right, but the Chelsea shot stopper got down quickly to deny City the lead.

Despite City looking the more likely to score before the break, Chelsea captain Mheuka headed the hosts ahead in the final attack before half-time.

The hosts carried their momentum into the second half after another powerful Mheuka header doubled Chelsea's just two minutes after the restart.

The introduction of substitutes Reigan Heskey and Ryan McAidoo before the hour mark sparked fresh life into City, who had a tall task ahead.

A thumping effort from Samuel, from an almost impossible tight angle, on 78 minutes, gave Wilkinson’s side a glimmer of hope.

But with City bodies pressed forward in search of an equaliser, a quick Chelsea counter, which Mheuka converted to complete his hat-trick, confirmed a defeat in our first game of 2025/26.

TEAMS

CHELSEA XI | Curd, Antwi (Olise 90+2’), Murray-Campbell, Wilson, Emenalo, Harrison, Cardoso (Richards 75’), Mcmahon, Mheuka, Walsh, Kavuma-McQueen (Derry 63’)

UNUSED SUBS | Sands, Best.

CITY XI | Wint, Samuel, Noble, Mfuni, Naylor (McFarlane 80’), J. Heskey, Muir, Oboavwoduo, Sangare (McAidoo 55’), Mukasa, Lawrence (R. Heskey 55’).

UNUSED SUBS | Brits, Fapetu.