U21s Report: Chelsea 2-2 Leeds United | OneFootball

Premier League 2

Chelsea U21 2 (Howard OG 40’, Mhueka 56’)

Leeds United U21 2 (Lane 61’, Chadwick 82’)

Chelsea: Bernal (GK), Antwi, Murray-Campbell, Subuloye, Emenalo, McMahon (Eboue 85’), Cardoso (Harrison 65’), Lavia (Dyer 46’), Mheuka (C), Walsh, Kavuma-McQueen. Subs not used: Sands (GK), Wilson.

Leeds: Ombang (GK), Lane, Lienou, Pickles, Howard, Matykiewicz, Mills (Ibrovic-Fletcher 60’), Cresswell (C), Vincent (Morris 80’), Chadwick, Bird (Mensah 60’). Subs not used: Cook (GK), Whitehead.

Venue: Cobham Training Ground

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Booked: Mheuka (Chelsea) Matykiewicz, Pickles, Cresswell, Chadwick (Leeds)

For the second time in a fortnight, a Leeds United side fought from two goals down away from home against Chelsea to earn a hard-fought point.

This time, it was the Under-21s who were behind in the second-half, but Freddie Lane brought the Whites back into the clash before Rhys Chadwick’s fine low strike rescued a draw for Scott Gardner’s side in the Premier League 2!

With three changes to the team that faced Manchester City last time out, play got underway in the capital as the rain swirled at Cobham. Goalkeeper Darryl Ombang was called into action early on, diving to his left to tip a well struck Leo Cardoso free kick away from danger.

The stopper then made a fine double intervention by parrying a deflected Shumaira Mheuka effort, before reacting brilliantly to deny Landon Emenalo from point blank range on the follow up.

With the hosts enjoying more of the opening period, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen then went close from the edge of the area, dragging a low left-footed strike wide of the far post.

Determined to get a hold on the game, a deep Callum Mills cross was kept alive by Chadwick when he glanced back across goal towards Jacob Howard, but a blue shirt was on hand to head behind. From the resulting corner kick, Coban Bird skewed a snapshot just over the upright.

Chadwick then had an opportunity of his own when latching onto a pass from Lane, after the full-back had cleverly intercepted when the Blues tried to play out from the back. Firing on the spin, the attacking midfielder was unable to trouble Freddy Bernal in the Chelsea goal.

Having settled into the encounter following a cagey start, the Whites were unfortunate to fall behind in the final meaningful action of the half. The ball cruelly cannoned off Jacob Howard and into the back of the net after a marauding run down the right flank by Genesis Antwi.

HALF TIME: Chelsea U21 1-0 Leeds United U21

Unchanged at the break, Gardner’s side emerged for the second 45 minutes and pressed intently from the off in search of a goal to level the scores.

Lane was continuing to look dangerous and he drove down the wing moments after the restart, finding Chadwick inside the area who would have troubled Bernal with a first-time strike if not for a fine block by Harrison Murray-Campbell.

In a fast start to the half, Mills would then go close. The midfielder met a looping delivery from the right, powering a header towards goal which was gathered by the Chelsea stopper.

The hosts warned of their threat on the break, however, as Cardoso raced onto a loose ball and released skipper Mhueka on the edge of the area. Under pressure from Howard and Luke Matykiewicz, the lively forward was unable to call Ombang into action.

Approaching the hour mark and this time the Blues captain did extend his team’s lead, despite Leeds being on top just moments earlier. Ombang had once more made a remarkable save to deny the attacker, but from the resulting corner, Mhueka was on hand to head home.

The first activity from the dugout saw an U21s debut for new signing Edward Ibrovic-Fletcher who, alongside Kenneth Mensah, replaced Callum Mills and Coban Bird respectively.

United halved the deficit and in style, through the hard-working Lane. The full-back had been picked out by a sublime outside of the boot pass by Jayden Lienou and darted in from the flank. Leaving a blue shirt in his wake, Lane kept his composure and coolly finished beyond the outstretched Bernal to put the Whites firmly back in contention!

Leeds were well on top but again on the break, the West London outfit threatened through Mhueka. Baring down on goal, the forward was dispossessed thanks to a crucial last-ditch Matykiewicz tackle. From the following set-piece, Ombang was equal to Murray-Campbell’s header with another fantastic diving save.

The game had grown into an open-ended affair and for the hosts, Emenalo then struck the foot of the post as they searched for a third, moments before Jack Morris replaced Harvey Vincent in another attacking change for the visitors.

And in what was the midfielder’s first involvement, Morris did brilliantly to wrestle back possession from a blue shirt and release Chadwick into the area who drilled an arrowed strike into the bottom corner to level proceedings!

In the final moments, Mhueka had an opportunity to win it for Chelsea but Matykiewicz again made a crucial intervention, blocking brilliantly with the full-time whistle sounding shortly afterwards!

Buoyed by an impressive result in the capital, the U21s will face West Ham United at the LNER Community Stadium in the PL2 next weekend.

FULL TIME: Chelsea U21 2-2 Leeds United U21