U23 - Brighton 2 - 0 Chelsea - 切爾西足球俱樂部 Chelsea Football Club

U23聯賽第三輪


https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/09/25/pl2-report--brighton-chelsea

PL2 report: Brighton 2 Chelsea 0

25 Sep 2020


Chelsea's development squad fell to their first Premier League 2 defeat in
over a year at the the hands of Brighton on Friday night.


https://i.imgur.com/oZKbJi5.jpg


Brighton opened the scoring on the night after just six minutes when Tudor
Baluta's strike from distance was on target and found an empty net.
Chelsea struggled to find a way back into the game after conceding so
early on - Thierno Ballo had our only meaningful chance of the first half
and that saw us behind at the break.


A switch of system and personnel in the second half saw Chelsea become
more of an attacking threat and chances started to fall our way, albeit
sparingly. Ian Maatsen's test of Carl Rushworth's net was the best
opporrtunity we had but it wasn't enough to earn a point and the door was
left open for Brighton to double their lead, and that they did through
Danny Cashman eight minutes from time to seal all three points.


== The young Blues ==


Andy Myers handed Jack Wakely and Lewis Bate their first PL2 starts of the
season, while Juan Castillo led from the left for the first time in the
league. Fresh from his first Chelsea goal for the Under-18s, Bryan Fiabema
was named among the substitutes.


https://i.imgur.com/h0NvPYH.png
Andy Myers' team selection tonight


== Early blow ==


Brighton got the game underway in front of the setting sun on a chilly
night by the sea and they found themselves ahead in odd circumstances
after just six minutes. A misplaced clearance out of the area by Karlo
Ziger fell to the opportunist centre-back, Baluta, who aimed at an empty
net from distance and hit the target to put his side ahead.


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


Chelsea responded well to conceding and took the game to the hosts whose
goal came against the run of play – however the Brighton counter-attacks
posed a constant threat.


== Frustration for Chelsea ==


There was little to report mid-way through the first half. Both teams had
settled and were forced to keep the ball on the floor as strong winds
claimed anything that was struck in the air. But Chelsea were struggling
to break down a resolute Brighton defence who were clinging on to their
lead.


Tino Livramento required some treatment before returning to the field but
he was unable to continue and that prompted a change in approach from the
Blues. Levi Colwill was sent on as the replacement and we shifted system
to play three central defenders with our wing-backs providing width.


We were made to wait until five minutes before the break for our first
attempt on goal. It was from Ballo and his ambitious bicycle kick was
saved by Carl Rushworth in the home goal.


https://i.imgur.com/922cFW7.jpg


== Second half commences ==


We made a half-time change, Dion Rankine was sent on in place of Castillo
to operate in the right wing-back position he occupied for the under-18s
last season.


Within the first five minutes of the restart we had attempted a number of
shots at Brighton's keeper and that was a clear instruction from the boss
during the break. It was something we were limited to before the interval.


https://i.imgur.com/Yqtv834.jpg
Brighton players surround Bate who has possession of the ball


== Chelsea chase ==


Maatsen had our best chance of the game after 70 minutes. The Chelsea
counter started from Wakely who cleared a Brighton corner, Jon Russell
carried the ball up-field and switched play to the wing-back who was
making up good ground on the left. After entering the box he let fly and
with the ball heading for the top corner a good save from Rushworth kept
the Blues at bay.


At this point it was all Chelsea and Bate was sacrificed for Fiabema as we
searched for a goal to level the scores and find a way back into the game.


== Brighton strike again ==


While Chelsea were chasing a goal Brighton seized their opportunity to
counter-attack and they doubled their lead through Cashman who found the
bottom corner from an angle. A devastating blow which ultimately put the
game beyond the young Blues.


== What's next? ==


Our development squad travel to The Banks's Stadium to take on Walsall in
the EFL Trophy on Tueesday night, 7pm kick-off.


Chelsea (4-2-3-1):
Karlo Ziger

Tino Livramento Dynel Simeu (c) Jack Wakely Ian Maatsen
(Levi Colwill 39)
Jon Russell Lewis Bate
(Bryan Fiabema 71)

Marcel Lewis Myles Peart-Harris Juan Castillo
(Dion Rankine ht)
Thierno Ballo


Unused subs - George Nunn, Lucas Bergstrom
Booked - Maatsen 85


Brighton:

Rushman, Packham (Wilson 62), Cochrane, Crofts, Dendoncker,

Baluta (Desbois ht), Yapi, Weir, Cashman, Jenks, Gwargis (Eneme 89)


Unused subs - Tsoungui, Spong
Scorers - Baluta 7, Cashman 82
Booked - Crofts 75, Cashman 82, Yapi 86, Cochrane 88


Referee - Ryan Atkin

--


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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