BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
U-21 INTERNATIONAL CUP
QUARTER-FINAL
THURSDAY 28TH JANUARY, 2016
(7.05pm)
(Played at Lamex Stadium, Stevenage)

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(0) CHELSEA 5(3)

Spurs scorers:-
Walkes, 54
Miller, 71

Chelsea scorers:-
Mitchell, 6
Palmer, 10
Aina, 35
Abraham, 87, 94

Referee:- Josh Smith
Assistants:- Samuel Lewis & Wayne Cartmel
Fourth official:- Darren Knox

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Glover; Walker-Peters, Maghoma, Veljkovic (Capt.), Pritchard (sub Oduwa, 74) ; Lesniak (sub Goddard, 63), Amos; Sonupe, Walkes, Georgiou; Miller

Subs not used:- Voss; Paul

Booked:- Amos (foul)

Chelsea (4-2-3-1):- Collins; Dabo (Capt.), Aina, Clarke-Salter, Wright; Quintero (sub Scott, 69), Houghton (sub Sammut, 75); Wakefield (sub Conroy, 80), Palmer, Mitchell; Abraham

Subs not used:-Baxter; Ugbo, DaSilva

Booked:- Collins (Time)

Abraham completes slaughter of Spurs lambs

Spurs were knocked out of the U-21 International Cup quarter-final after another goal fest involving Chelsea. A little over two weeks ago, the two teams had met in an U-21 league match at Stevenage's Lamex Stadium, and Chelsea had run out 5-4 winners in a terrific match for the spectators and viewers.

Last night, goals were anticipated, and when Chelsea went two up within 10 minutes, the margin looked as if it could be biblical. Spurs did go three down by half-time, but fought back well to get to 3-2 before Chelsea's Abraham scored two late goals to complete the slaughter of Spurs' lambs.

Chelsea's side had been tweaked after the last meeting, but impactive players Mitchell, Palmer and Abraham featured again, and prominently, supported strongly by left back Kevin Wright, and right winger Charlie Wakefield.

Spurs U-21 side has been eroded this season by loans, and now the departure and transfers of Kenny McEvoy, Shaq Coulthirst, and most recently Andros Townsend. Townsend's presence in recent games had, after all, been a luxury. Last night they were further weakened by the absence of 18 year old (and only just 18) USA centre-back Cameron Carter- Vickers, who has been training with the first team squad (not for the first time) and could be involved in tomorrow's FA Cup game at Colchester.

The Spurs defence was bolstered on the one hand by the return to the team of Milos Veljkovic, who captained the side, but somewhat weakened by the improvisation of using Joe Pritchard at left back. Whilst Pritchard and left winger Anthony Georgiou were almost Spurs' only outlet in the early stages, working well as an attacking force, Chelsea's right winger Charlie Wakefield enjoyed a good degree of success.

Christian Maghoma played beside Veljkovic allowing Filip Lesniak into his favoured midfield position. Sonupe started, but on the right wing, with Will Miller again deployed at number 9. The relative weakness of the Spurs squad was illustrated by the presence of only four substitutes including a goalkeeper on the bench.

Chelsea kicked off on a cold and windy night towards Broadhall Way, but it was Spurs who had the first chance, after Georgiou and Pritchard had combined well out on the left. Pritchard passed inside to Miller who got well forward before crossing to Sonupe, who hit his shot on target, but which was blocked.

Chelsea won a lot of free kicks on the night, and from perhaps the first, taken by Aina, Abraham's overhead effort went over. Chelsea took the lead within minutes when Maghoma had been caught in possession and Reece Mitchell cut into the Spurs area from the left, hitting a rising right footed shot which rebounded into the net off the underside of the bar to the right of the beaten goalkeeper Glover.

One down became two in the tenth minute. After good work by Mitchell and Wright deep down the left channel, and a ball from Wright, Palmer displayed excellent skills making his way into the edge of the Spurs area, firing his shot across Glover and into the net at the far post.

I feared the worst of scorelines at this stage, with Chelsea looking like scoring almost every time they got forward. Aina's header from a free kick taken from the right was held by Glover, grateful to get a firm grip of the ball.

Luka Amos took an early booking for a crunching midfield tackle. Spurs were desperately trying to close down their opponents, but they were being out-played.

There was a scramble in the Spurs goalmouth after 20 minutes and somehow Palmer's effort from close in was diverted out for a corner. At last Spurs came up with another effort when Lesniak sent Sonupe away down the right. Sonupe crossed deep and Chelsea conceded a corner with Pritchard challenging. It might have been Pritchard back in his defensive position, who gave away possession with a crossfield ball in Spurs' final third of the pitch. Mitchell latched onto the ball and raced into the area, going down, but not being awarded a penalty by referee Josh Smith.

After 35 minutes, we witnessed a simply astounding goal. It was truly of Beckham v Wimbledon proportions (or Charlie Adam v Chelsea), scored by Ola Aina, literally from the half-way line. Aina hit the ball with power and Glover was only just off his line, beaten as the ball dipped over him into the top of goal at just the right angle. I don't think Glover did anything wrong here. I don't know if Aina intended a goal, and he simply stood still, with his team-mates celebrating. It was a brilliant goal.

Sonupe got one more chance before the break, hitting his shot powerfully, but straight at goalkeeper Collins.

As I remarked on Twitter last night, Spurs came out early for the second half, but unfortunately, Chelsea came out too, on time.

Spurs started forcefully, with Georgiou impactive hitting an early cross which just seemed to bobble on the turf as Miller shot over. Spurs won two early corners, and got a goal back after 54 minutes when Walkes' shot from the right took a deflection and beat the keeper.

Georgiou won a corner after 57 minutes, and Spurs had two chances cleared at the back post. The ball ran out to Kyle Walker-Peters who hit a powerful shot over the target.

Chelsea found their attacking feet again and palmer had a shot at goal after receiving a good ball down the middle. It seemed easier for him to score than to fire over. Wakefield also broke clear down the right, getting into the Spurs box, but his shot was well blocked by Glover who had positioned himself well.

Lesniak was replaced by Cy Goddard, and after 65 minutes Anton Walkes tried to force his way into the Chelsea are and into a shooting position, but he was being hampered all the way and the referee awarded a free kick just outside the area. Miller took the kick, which was deflected out for a corner.

Miller was the corner taker and once again, Spurs had two efforts cleared at the back post, before another Walker-Peters shot was blocked.

Spurs got back to 3-2 with a terrific team goal. Pritchard sent a great long ball from the half-way line deep to his right for the advancing Sonupe who hit his cross powerfully on the run. Will Miller dived to head the ball, and the ball somehow squeezed over the line, with the goalkeeper failing to hold.

Cheekily, I thought Spurs were now only losing to a "fluke" goal, but Chelsea were to regain their three goal winning margin. They had the goal at their mercy after Wakefield crossed to Palmer, but he scooped over.

Ugo Ehiogu took off Pritchard and Nathan Oduwa made his first appearance since returning from his loan spell at Glasgow Rangers. Oduwa played down the left flank, and Georgiou played in the left back slot. Chelsea used all three of their substitutions whereas Spurs used only two.

The "Blues" finished with a thrust, although they had been worried enough to have their keeper booked for taking too much time over a free kick. Palmer was getting close attention from two spurs players near the right corner flag, but still managed to get the ball to Dabo, who was in acres of space. Dabo crossed and it was a simple tap-in for Abraham.

Veljkovic did swing in a good free kick from 22 yards just over the bar to the right of the goalkeeper, but in the last of four minutes of added time, Chelsea completed their emphatic win with a second goal by Abraham, who scored from the edge of the box (again despite close Spurs attention), just beating Glover's right hand inside the post.

This was a "home" game for Spurs, but there are plenty of Chelsea fans living in Stevenage. In fairness the cheers heard were mostly from youthful voices, but it was the away fans who went home deliriously happy on this night.

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