U23 - Chelsea 5 - 0 Leicester City - 切爾西足球俱樂部 Chelsea Football Club

U23聯賽第15輪


https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2022/01/08/pl2-report--chelsea-leicester-city

PL2 Report: Chelsea 5 Leicester City 0

08 Jan 2022


Our development squad kicked off their start to the new year with an
emphatic 5-0 victory over Leicester City in Premier League 2.


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


A game played in terrible conditions saw us win convincingly at Cobham on
Saturday afternoon. Jayden Wareham, Joe Haigh, George McEachran and Ben
Elliott were all on the scoresheet as Andy Myers's boys recorded their
first league win at home since mid-October.


The team returned for PL2 action following the Christmas break with an
impressive display on a cold and rainy afternoon in Surrey, our boys
managing to not allow the weather to affect their game too much.


It was a confident display with Alfie Gilchrist and Haigh really
impressing on the day. Wareham scored the first of the game as he combined
well with Jude Soonsup-Bell in the box to neatly tuck away before Haigh
doubled the lead as he pounced on a parried effort from the keeper
following a Soonsup-Bell shot. Haigh secured a brace with the assistance
of the post, as his shot deflected back off the woodwork and keeper into
the back of the net.


https://i.imgur.com/SbU5UcT.jpg
Wareham holds off a Foxes challenge


McEachran added a fourth with the pick of the bunch as he delicately
lobbed the keeper with a first-time effort after a corner from Elliot and
there was enough time for Elliott to add a fifth in the 90th minute as he
drilled home an effort which skidded off the surface to beat the keeper.


Even with all the great attacking bits of play, what was even more
impressive was our defensive solidity as we kept a clean sheet for the
first time in seven matches. The win takes us ninth with 17 points, one
point ahead of the Foxes.


== Team news ==


The youngsters were missing the likes of Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Harvey Vale,
Lewis Hall and Charlie Webster, who have been training this week with
Thomas Tuchel ahead of our FA Cup tie against Chesterfield, so the likes
of Silko Thomas and Leo Castledine were drafted in to fill out the team.


With this in mind, Ethan Wady made his third appearance of the season
between the posts for our young Blues. Wareham was also given a starting
berth as well as Elliott, who came on for a short cameo against Derby
County in the last game before the Christmas break.


== Slow start to the new year ==


It was a cagey start to the game as the rain poured down on the pitch and
both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball in the opening moments. We
did have an early penalty shout as Haigh was nudged in the back, however
the referee believed the challenge to be a fair one as he waved away our
claims.


With the game lacking in any clear-cut chances, it did not lack in
challenges as both sides put pressure on each other in an attempt to gain
some sort of supremacy over the game.


== Fluid football ==


It took 20 minutes for our young Blues to gain more control over the game,
and it began to show as we moved the ball quicker. Myers would have been
happy with this and we were rewarded with our efforts.


Great work from Soonsup-Bell led to him feeding Wareham who expertly
converted to give us the lead midway through the first-half. The increased
tempo led to that goal and allowed our young Blues to control the game.
Gilchrist was setting the tempo from the back with clean challenges that
were visibly motivating the team. Haigh showed a nice burst of pace to get
away from his man but despite the great piece of skill he dragged his
effort wide.


https://i.imgur.com/fwTFTec.jpg
Wareham broke the deadlock for us just after 20 minutes


However, the hosts were very impressive with their approach play as we
enjoyed fluid possession, showcasing neat touches, with Leicester not only
struggling to get and retain the ball but also create chances for
themselves. Wareham had another opening but he drilled a left-footed
effort straight at the keeper.


After a short break in play, we created another great opportunity as
Rankine went on a surging run through the middle of the pitch. With an
overlapping run from Soonsup-Bell, he slipped him in and the striker fired
an effort which the keeper saved well with an outstretched leg.


Haigh was showing a lot of confidence throughout the first half and, after
winning possession, a counter-attack ensued. With options left and right,
Haigh attempted a lofted effort from the halfway line, which drew an
incredible stop from the opposing keeper as he tipped it over for a
corner.


With no pressure on us, we almost undid all our hard work. A clearance
from Wady on the stroke of half-time got caught in the wind. With
Leicester winning the header, an attempt on goal was cleared off the line
from the impressive Gilchrist.


https://i.imgur.com/luzcpH8.jpg
Gilchrist was one of many impressive performers today


== Back with a bang ==


We raced out of the blocks in the second half as a fast break led by the
impressive Haigh led to a perfectly weighted through-ball for
Soonsup-Bell. His effort was parried by the keeper but the onrushing Haigh
was on hand to prod home.


https://i.imgur.com/BuBr6az.jpg
Joe Haigh was causing trrouble for Leicester's defence all afternoon


We almost made it three as Soonsup-Bell fired an effort goalwards under
pressure but the busy Foxes' shot-stopper managed to tip over. Yet this
was an impressive first performance of the year from this age group and
that was underlined as Haigh was influentially involved again with a
powerful effort that ricocheted off the post and then the keeper before it
ended up in the back of the net.


Myers used this comfortable cushion as a chance to make a number of
changes as we saw Brodie Hughes, Bryan Fiabema and Silko Thomas all come
on. Despite this, it was two starters who combined to give us our fourth
of the game which added gloss to the scoreline. A delightful corner from
Elliott found McEachran, who was playing in a deeper position, and the
midfielder caressed a left-footed looping effort beyond the reaches of the
keeper.


https://i.imgur.com/hP1s2O7.jpg
George McEachran arguably scored the pick of the bunch


Finally, in his first start following a long lay-off, Elliott scored our
fifth of the game with a low effort fired hard, fizzing off the surface
before beating the keeper to his right.


The game ended 5-0 and was a great way to start the new year for Myers and
his boys. This was an assured performance from our Under-23s and was an
indication of the work and effort the coaches are putting into the boys
and their development.


The next fixture for our development squad will be the round of 16 clash
against Arsenal's Under-21s in the Papa Johns Trophy next Tuesday 11
January.


Chelsea (3-4-2-1):
Ethan Wady

Josh Brooking (c) Xavier Mbuyamba Alfie Gilchrist
(Brodie Hughes 76)

Dion Rankine Ben Elliot George McEachran George Nunn
(Silko Thomas 65)

Joe Haigh Jude Soonsup-Bell
Jayden Wareham (Bryan Fiabema 83)


Unused subs - Prince Adegoke, Leo Castledine
Scorers - Wareham 22; Haigh 49; Young (OG) 62; McEachran 85; Elliott 90+3


Leicester City (3-1-4-2):
Brad Young

Ronny Nelson Bayli Spencer-Adams James Justin
(Shane Flynn 45)
Oliver Ewing (c)

Iestyn Hughes Tawanda Maswanhise Henry Cartwright Thanawat Swengchitthawon
(Terell Pennant 65)
Ethan Fitzhugh Jake Wakeling
(Will Russ 76)


Unused subs - Chituru Odunze, Joe Wormleighton

--


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

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


--