U23 - Arsenal 2 - 2 Chelsea - 切爾西足球俱樂部 Chelsea Football Club

U23聯賽第12輪


https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/02/05/pl2-report--arsenal-chelsea

PL2 report: Arsenal 2 Chelsea 2

05 Feb 2021


An entertaining game at Meadow Park ended level as Chelsea's development
squad made their return to match action on Friday night.


https://i.imgur.com/T4RxNpY.jpg


Thierno Ballo found the net first to give Chelsea an early lead and
midfield man Marcel Lewis, who assisted the first, was on hand to apply
the finishing touches to our next move and reclaim the lead after Reiss
Nelson drew his side level moments earlier..


Chelsea's half-time lead was well deserved and we were made to work hard to
keep our advantage once we returned to the field. Though we could only hold
out until the 81st minute , and Arsenal scored the final goal of the game to
snatch a point at Meadow Park. The result sees Chelsea remain fourth, now on
23 points.


https://i.imgur.com/9jc9uV8.jpg


Andy Myers' first starting 11 of 2021 came a little later than expected
and featured some names we hadn't seen at this level during this campaign.
Ethan Wady was between the sticks for his first ever development squad
outing while Dujon Sterling made up part of the back three on his return
to football after a lengthy injury. George McEachran was in midfield for
the first time since coming back from a short loan spell at MVV Maastricht
and Levi Colwil captained the team from the back.


== Back in action ==


A late change to the line-up saw George Nunn take the place of Henry
Lawrence, providing width on the left, and our first chance came within
the opening minute of play. Lewis wriggled in to the box and smartly
squeezed the ball to Ballo who warmed the hands of Karl Hein.


https://i.imgur.com/tLJpHIL.jpg
George Nunn challenges for possesion


After the fast start from the Myers' men who hadn't played in over a
month, we found a breakthrough in the 11th minute - Ballo was involved in
all of our early moves, the latter of which provided the goal.


Tino Livramento played the ball forward and a neat back heel from Lewis
gave Ballo possession in the box. The 19-year-old made no mistake and
coolly found the bottom corner out of Hein's reach, the extended period
without competitive action hadn't troubled Chelsea's trademark high-energy
start.


== Not behind for long ==


Against the run of play in the 29th minute, Arsenal were level and in
quite harsh circumstances from a Chelsea point of view as Ballo appeared
to get a foot on the ball in a challenge 30 yards out, but the referee
thought otherwise.


As a result, Reiss Nelson took aim from the free-kick and arrowed the ball
in to the top corner out of Wady's reach, we were level at 1-1.


Lewis was at the heart of every Chelsea attack and turned provider for the
goal which restored our lead. A one-two with McEachran set Lewis charging
at goal and he took his shot early, powering into the bottom corner from
range just two minutes after Arsenal's leveller.


https://i.imgur.com/3eqXpOk.jpg
Marcel scored his fourth goal in all competitions in the first half


A solid end to the half saw Chelsea reinsert our dominance, limiting
Arsenal to possession too far away from Wady's goal to pose any real
threat. The one time the American stopper was called upon he was sure to
get a strong pair of hands behind Folarin Balogun's shot and gather the
danger.


== Arsenal attack ==


Arsenal returned reenergised and brought the game to Chelsea. A home
corner was swung in towards the head of Jonathan Dinzeyi who, with the
goal at his mercy, headed wide of the target. It was a huge let off for
Chelsea who needed to find rhythm again after the interval.


Later, Bryan Fiabema had the chance to finish a great move which started
with a solid sliding tackle from Livramento in his own half. Lewis then
picked up possession and drove forward unopposed. A threaded through-ball
set Norwegian through on goal but he slammed his shot in to the side
netting when aiming across goal looked the better option.


https://i.imgur.com/vi82XQ0.jpg
Sam protecting the ball at Meadow Park


After a short spell of possession in Chelsea's favour, Arsenal were back
on top. Nelson tried his luck from 10 yards and Wady responded well,
sticking out a long leg to deny the lively winger.


== Final quarter ==


Chelsea's lead was a slender one as we entered the latter stages of the
game and the next goal would surely decide the tie. Myers changed his
forward man in an attempt to make sure it went our way with Jude
Soonsup-Bell replacing Fiabema.


The Gunners were always quick on the counter and strong defending from Sam
McClelland and Sterling kept our hosts at arm's length, but only until the
81st minute. Wady got a hand to the strike but a wicked deflection on
Charlie Patino's hit forced its way in to the back of the net for the
equalising goal.


For the final chance of the game Chelsea were patient in working our way
up the field. Dion Rankine picked out Lewis in the centre who had the
chance to seal the win but couldn't find the target as he lost his balance
at the moment of contact and that saw the entertaining London derby end
level.


== What's next? ==


In 10 days Myers takes his side to Derby County for battle, kick-off at
the Loughborough University stadium is 7pm.


Chelsea 3-4-2-1:
Ethan Wady

Dujon Sterling Sam McClelland Levi Colwill (c)

Tino Livramento Lewis Bate George McEachran George Nunn
(Dion Rankine 62)

Thierno Ballo Marcel Lewis
Bryan Fiabema
(Jude Soonsup-Bell 75)


Unused subs - Jake Askew, Pierre Ekwah-Elimby
Booked - Bate 47
Scorers - Ballo 11, Lewis 32


Arsenal:

Karl Hein, Ryan Alebiosu, Jonathan Dinzeyi, Alex Kirk, Joel Lopez, Tim Akinola,

Charlie Patino, Ben Cottrell, Nikolaj Moller, Reiss Nelson, Folarin Balogun (c)


Unused subs - Tom Smith, Daniel Oyegoke, Mazeed Ogungbo, Catalin Cirjan,
Taylor-Hart
Booked - Alebiosu 30
Scorers - Nelson 29, Patino 81

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"We believe the same thing."

"Maybe there is hope."
- 9x20 The Truth

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