Ezenwata scores twice as Chelsea U18s beat West Brom 4-1 to stay on Arsenal’s heels | OneFootball

Chelsea U18s won 4-1 at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon to stay within touching distance of U18 Premier League South Leaders Arsenal.Chelsea struggled to get a foothold early on and were punished as Rio Parmar scored from close range to give West Brom the lead inside eight minutes.Chelsea eventually began to enjoy more possession as the game went on and scored from their first real attempt at goal..West Brom failed to clear their lines from a corner, allowing Lewi Richards to collect a loose ball and fire into the roof of the net after a chaotic scramble.Six minutes later, Chelsea completed the turnaround when Charlie Holland teed up Chizzy Ezenwata, whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper, but Sol Gordon headed the rebound home.Jacob Hall halted the Baggies’ chance to score the equaliser, while Ezenwata’s shot at the other end brushed the crossbar on the brink of half-time.West Brom began pushing for the leveller early in the second half but could not test Freddy Bernal in the Chelsea goal.Schoolboy Nicoll-Jazuli nearly increased the Blues’ lead when he controlled Richards’ cross on his chest and lifted the ball over his marker, only for him to volley it wide of the post.Chelsea asserted control over the game and should have been home and dry, with chances falling to Eboue and Holland, but their efforts were deflected wide.Chelsea eventually made it 3-1 in the 73rd minute from the penalty spot following a foul on Nicoll-Jazuli, and Ezenwata stepped up to convert the resultant spot kick.Ezenwata sealed the victory seven minutes from time, heading in Harry McGlinchey’s inch-perfect cross from close range at the back post.Hassan Sulaiman’s side trail table-toppers Arsenal by one point, despite playing a game less than the North London side.Chelsea return to action next Saturday at Manchester City in the U18 Premier League Cup.