U18 - Chelsea 4 - 3 Norwich City - 切爾西足球俱樂部 Chelsea Football Club

U18南區聯賽第六輪


https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/10/23/under-18s-report--chelsea-norwich

Under-18s report: Chelsea 4 Norwich City 3

23 Oct 2020


Chelsea's Under-18s found themselves on the right end of another
seven-goal thriller in this afternoon's win over Norwich at Cobham.


https://i.imgur.com/exr42t2.jpg


It was another weekend which provided plenty of goals for our Under-18s,
who battled until the end to grab all three points.


We were behind by two goals shortly after the opening 20 minutes and
couldn't seem to find a way back into the game until Harvey Vale's strike
on the stroke of half-time gave us something to fight for in the second
half.


Despite a strong start, Norwich stretched their lead just after the
restart and we were 3-1 down but we remained positive and began the
fightback when Vale was on target again, this time from distance. With
just one goal between us and a point there was nothing to lose. Jude
Soonsup-Bell notched the first of his brace after 72 minutes and his
second came three mintues from time which sealed all three points for Chelsea.


== Harshly behind ==


Shortly before the start of the game the heavens opened and added an extra
yard of pace on to the Cobham Match Pitch, and Norwich used it to their
advantage within the first five minutes. Abu Kamara was slipped through on
goal with only Jake Askew to beat however he missed the target much to
Chelsea's delight as it was a chance he really should’ve made count.


Chelsea's first chance of the afternoon came from a set-piece and although
Alfie Gilchrist connected with the ball it dropped just the wrong side of
the post in our first attempt to break the deadlock inside the first
quarter.


After 16 minutes of play we were penalised for our willingness to defend
with our bodies, the ball was adjudged to have hit Charlie Wiggett's hand
during a sliding challenge and the referee harshly awarded Norwich a
penalty kick which Tom Dickson-Peters converted.


== Norwich double the lead ==


There was no time to dwell on falling behind though and we immediately
looked for a way back into the game. Castledine's through ball found the
run of Silko Thomas whose cross dropped for Alex Kpakpe at the back post,
but unfortunately his right-footed attempt was blocked before it could
trouble Sam Blair's net.


https://i.imgur.com/sq64f6s.jpg
Kpakpe goes close


While we were in the hunt for a way back into the game, Norwich were
plotting an attack of their own and it was one which proved fruitful. Neat
build-up play down the right allowed for a low cross into the box which
Oscar Thorn picked up and slotted away. 2-0 Norwich.


== Kept at bay ==


Chelsea had finally found their flow after a frustrating opening 30
minutes and saw consecutive chances go agonisingly close to earning a way
back into the game. First Castledine let fly from distance but the ball
rolled inches wide of the Norwich net before Soonsup-Bell's drive did the
same.


Despite our best efforts we were kept at bay by a combination of missed
chances and Norwich defending and shortly before the break our visitors
went closest to being the next scorers. Dickson-Peters squeezed through
the backline and found himself one-on-one with the keeper but luckily for
Chelsea he squirmed the chance to secure his brace.


== Half-time lifeline ==


Chelsea were handed a first-half lifeline when a poor goal-kick gifted us
possession in midfield. Vale had the ball and opted to try his luck from
distance with his lesser favoured right foot and curled the ball perfectly
into the bottom corner for his second goal in consecutive games. We were
behind by just one at half time.


https://i.imgur.com/dezgUIM.jpg
Vale moments before finding the net


== Blue response ==


Despite being dealt an early blow by Norwich stretching their lead through
forward Dickson-Peters, Chelsea responded to the goal in the best way
possible. A half-cleared corner-kick left the ball bouncing in the air
where Vale reacted first to head on target and over a grounded Blair. The
young Blues had momentum on their side as the scores read 2-3.


Next was the chance of captain Bashir Humphreys and again it was from a
corner-kick. Our centre-back was quickest to the front post to connect
with the cross. His effort flew just over the target.


Brand opted for a double substitution just after an hour's play. Humphreys
and Kpakpe made way for Derrick Abu and schoolboy Brodi Hughes for his
Under-18s debut.


== Back level ==


The game opened up as we entered the final 20 minutes and Chelsea were in
ascendance. Set-pieces had provided a decent chance every time we attacked
and it gave us the goal we needed to get on level terms, and it was scored
in style.


The ball in from Castledine's corner was played short to Thomas who put
the ball in the box where Norwich's partial clearance was met by
Soonsup-Bell's overhead-kick sparking jubilant scenes among the players
who had earned their goal. It was 3-3 as the final quarter approached.


https://i.imgur.com/OqcCPia.jpg
Soonsup-Bell finds the target in style!


Chelsea had the win in their sails and Derrick Abu almost scored a wonder
goal to give Chelsea the lead for the first time on the afternoon. The
full-back found space on the right and saw his looping cross drop beneath
the bar and off the inside of the far post, catching all in attendance by
surprise. Blair was quick to grab the loose ball.


== Finally in the lead ==


The game was turning out to be an incredible watch and Chelsea looked to
have snatched the lead in the final moments and it was again from a
corner-kick. Vale's in-swinging ball was well met by the head of
Soonsup-Bell who wrapped up an afternoon's work with a fantastic brace
which ultimately secured with win for Chelsea's under-18s.


Chelsea (3-4-2-1)
Jake Askew

Alfie Gilchrist (c) Charlie Wiggett Bashir Humphreys
(Derrick Abu 64)

Silko Thomas Leo Castledine Josh Tobin Alex Kpapke
(Ronnie Stutter ht) (Brodi Hughes 64)

Harvey Vale Lewis Hall
Jude Soonsup-bell


Unused subs - Max Merrick, Malik Mothersille
Booked - Vale 45
Scorer - Vale 45, 58; Soonsup-Bell 72, 87


Norwich:

Sam Blair, Eddie Jackson, Sean Stewart, Jaden Warner, Lewis Shipley,

Nelson Khumbeni, Jon Rowe, Sayon Earley (c),

Tom Dickson-Peters (Harry Brooke 64), Abu Kamara,

Oscar Thorn (Harry Pitcher 54)


Unused subs - Zak Brown, Soloman Alidor-Hamilton, Ola Okeowo
Booked - Earley 86
Scorer - Dickson-Peters 16, 48; Thorn 22


Photography by Mark Sandom

--


Hoddle: 'Matthew will be sitting up there looking down now and

loving Chelsea being winners. He'll just love Chelsea winning.'


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