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

Chelsea U18 won 4-1 at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon to stay within touching distance of U18 Premier League South leaders Arsenal.

The Blues 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 genuine 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.

They quickly 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 stopped the Baggies from scoring an 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.

Chelsea asserted control over the game and should have been home and dry, but they were wasteful in front of goal.

They eventually made it 3-1 in the 73rd minute from the penalty spot, with Ezenwata stepping up to convert.

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, but have a game in hand.

Chelsea return to action next Saturday at Manchester City in the U18 Premier League Cup.